The Five Senses
Medium
Etching and engraving
Dimensions
18 × 13 7/8 × 3/16 in. (45.7 × 35.2 × 0.5 cm)
Classification
Albums|Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1953
Accession Number
53.600.1003(1-6)
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the opulent world of 18th-century French Roc art, *The Five Senses*1720–70) captures the playful elegance of François Boucher, a master of decorative scenes, reproduced through the skilled etching and engraving of Gabriel Huquier. This print, measuring 18 × 13 7/8 inches, likely depicts allegorical female figures embodying sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch a popular motif symbolizing human experience amid luxury and sensuality. Huquier's precise printmaking techniques allowed Boucher's whimsical designs to reach a wider audience beyond paintings, reflecting the era's booming market f...
About the Artist
François Boucher|Gabriel Huquier · 1703–1770
François Boucher (1703–1770) stands as the quintessential master of French Rococo painting and the most celebrated decorative artist of the 18th century. Born in Paris to a lace designer, Boucher created a visual language that perfectly embodied the refined taste, sensuality, and elegance of Louis XV's court. His prolific output—encompassing paintings, tapestry designs, theatrical sets, and decora...