France 1820: The Naughty Damsels, Two Large Engravings after Boilly

Description: France 1820: The Naughty Damsels, Two Large Engravings after Boilly This pair of large, striking engravings come from a recent fine arts auction at the Hotel Drouot, Paris. They are based on paintings by the great Louis Léopold Boilly (1761-1845) and they illustrate erotic romps in French sitting rooms of the period. One, titled ironically "Defend Yourself" depicts an amorous young couple on a loveseat. The young man presses his suit, and the girl, far from offering resistance, toys with the idea of removing his clothing. There are four people in the companion piece, entitled "Hah hah, What a Fool." The curmodgeonly gentleman in a tricorne hat at the right menaces the two girls in the middle, while the young male suitor hides behind a screen and the little dog yaps. The girls do not much care for the old man, and the one standing makes an obscene gesture in his direction to express her contempt. This is a sharply satiric pair. And I am pleased to point out that these young women are perky and autonomous beings -- no shrinking violets! Dimensions of the paper sheets are 22 inches by 28 inches. They appear to have been knocking about without frames for about 200 years and they do show some age, especially at the margins. Condition of the actual images is nonetheless OK, and there is a lot to enjoy here. My opening price for the pair is very modest. Shipping within the U.S. will be $12. And to see what else I have for sale, please click here.

Price: 49.99 USD

Location: Amesbury, Massachusetts

End Time: 2024-11-12T03:02:01.000Z

Shipping Cost: 12 USD