Les Jeunes Soeurs 1745 - 1953

Jean-Honoré Fragonard’s "Les Jeunes Soeurs" was printed using engraving, a process in which lines are incised into a metal plate, filled with ink, and then printed onto paper. Engraving demands meticulous skill and physical labor. The engraver uses tools to carve lines into the metal, controlling the depth and thickness to create tonal variation. The density of lines determines the darkness of the printed image. Here, Fragonard’s expertise is evident in the fine lines that capture the delicacy of the girls’ features and the texture of their gowns. The print transforms Fragonard’s original painting into a reproducible format, making it accessible to a broader audience. This speaks to the emerging commercialization of art in the 18th century, where prints allowed for wider distribution and consumption of artworks. By understanding the labor-intensive process of engraving, we gain insight into the value placed on skilled craftsmanship and the evolving relationship between art, production, and consumption during this period.