Le Contrat 1745 - 1806

Jean-Honoré Fragonard created "Le Contrat" using engraving, a printmaking technique that involves incising an image onto a metal plate. The process of engraving demands meticulous skill, as the artist carves lines into the plate, which then hold ink and transfer the image onto paper. The stark contrast and fine details we see here are achieved through careful control of line depth and density. The work gives the impression of an intimate scene of domesticity, but it also hints at underlying social issues of wealth, class, and consumption. The document that the man is signing is a marriage contract, sealing the union of two individuals, and their fortunes. The act of signing a contract suggests the commodification of relationships, where love and commitment become entangled with economic considerations. Thinking about the processes and materials used in this work, we can consider the wider social implications of the artwork, breaking down traditional barriers between fine art and everyday life.