Print

About this artwork

Research in Progress

Art Historical Context

Jean Mariette's *Print* (1727) exemplifies the refined artistry of early 18th-century Frenchmaking. Born in 1660, Mariette was a prominent engraver and art dealer in Paris, part of the illustrious Mariette family dynasty that shaped the European print trade. Active during the Regency period under Philippe II, Duke of Orléans—before Louis XV's full reign—this work captures a moment when prints served as vital conduits for disseminating fashionable designs, architectural ornament, and celebrated paintings to a burgeoning collector class. As a print, this piece highlights the medium's revolutionary role in democratizing art. Techniques like etching and engraving allowed precise reproduction of intricate details, making high art accessible beyond oil paintings. Mariette's expertise lay in reproductive prints, often after masters like Watteau, blending technical virtuosity with ornamental elegance characteristic of emerging Rococo tastes. Acquired by the Smithsonian American Art Museum through the Advisory Council's purchase, this print enriches the collection's exploration of transatlantic artistic exchange. Though research continues, it invites visitors to ponder how such modest works fueled cultural dialogues across centuries.