The Child and the Cat
Medium
Etching and drypoint in black on ivory laid paper
Dimensions
Image: 22.8 × 17 cm (9 × 6 3/4 in.); Plate: 26.1 × 19.1 cm (10 5/16 × 7 9/16 in.); Sheet: 27.1 × 20.3 cm (10 11/16 × 8 in.)
Classification
etching
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
151471
Art Historical Context
**The Child and the Cat is a charming 1778 etching and drypoint Marguerite Gérard, a French artist active in the late 18th. Housed in the Art Institute Chicago's Prints and Drawings, this intimate print measures 22.8 × 17 cm for the image, on ivory laid paper. The title evokes a tender domestic scene, likely featuring a child and feline companion—a motif common in period genre works that celebrated everyday life and affection. Gérard's use of etching and drypoint showcases masterful printmaking techniques. Etching involves drawing lines on a metal plate coated in acid-resistant ground, then i...