The Toilet (La Toilette), from Essai de Papilloneries Humaines par Saint Aubin
ca. 1756–60
Medium
Etching; first state of two
Dimensions
plate: 13 1/16 x 9 3/8 in. (33.2 x 23.8 cm) sheet: 15 1/2 x 10 1/2 in. (39.4 x 26.6 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund and Rogers Fund, 1982
Accession Number
1982.1101.6
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the whimsical world of 18th French satire with *The Toilet (La Toilette, an etching by Charles-Germain de Saint-Aubin, around 1756–60. This-state impression from his series *Essai deilloneries Humaines*Essay on Human Butterflies) captures the rococo era's playful elegance. Saint-Aubin, a masteraver known for his intricate fashion illustrations and social commentary, uses etching—a technique prized for its fluid lines and tonal depth—to depict intimate scenes of daily life with a twist of fantasy. The title evokes the French *toilette*, the elaborate morning ritual of dressing and gr...