Water 1731 - 1765

Louis Félix de La Rue created this print titled "Water", now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Executed using etching, the artwork captures a scene dominated by cherubic figures amidst swirling waters. Note the artist's deliberate use of line and form. The figures are rendered with delicate, precise lines that define their soft, plump bodies. The composition is constructed in a pyramidal shape, lending a sense of classical balance. La Rue employs the etching technique to suggest depth and texture through the density and variation of lines. The hatching creates a sense of movement in the water, contrasting with the stillness of the cherubs. The imagery taps into a symbolic language, with cherubs often representing innocence and purity. The swirling water around them might be seen as a metaphor for the turbulent forces of nature. The artwork destabilizes the boundaries between the real and the ideal, the human and the divine. It invites contemplation on themes of innocence, nature, and the interplay of opposing forces.