Title Page
Medium
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-475-1
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This title page print by Marie Michelle Blondel offers a graceful entry point to a larger series of works from mid-eighteenth-century France. Created between 1744 and 1756, the piece reflects the refined aesthetic of the period, when elegant printed designs often introduced books, portfolios, or ornamental collections. As a French woman artist active during a time when professional opportunities for women remained limited, Blondel’s contribution stands out in the history of graphic arts. Printmaking itself played a vital role in eighteenth-century culture, allowing intricate designs to reach ...