Nicolas Lancret, Le jeu de cache cache, gravure,

This magnificent engraving belongs to a set of three engravings depicting children's games. This series dates from the eighteenth century. It consists of the game of hide and seek, the game of the four corners and the game of the ox's paw. The scene depicted here is immersed in abundant nature. In the center is a young girl who walks away, her eyes poorly concealed. A young man also walks away in the opposite direction, holding a handkerchief in his left hand. Behind them, seven other girls are sitting and do not seem to be paying attention to the two young men in the foreground. In the background is a bust placed on a pillar, all decorated with roses. This scene is taken from a painting by nicolas lancret, a french painter of the eighteenth century. This man brilliantly depicts the spirit of light comedy that characterizes the taste and mores of the french society of the regency. He was trained in drawing and engraving. But he eventually gave up engraving to devote himself to painting. He meets watteau and his work resembles that of the latter. He entered the academy. He wanted to be a history painter but he painted a lot of gallant scenes and scenes of everyday life. He met the engraver nicolas larmessin who managed to understand his work and transcribed it perfectly. He became, in a way, the official engraver of the works of this artist. This work was engraved by nicolas IV de larmessin, an 18th century french engraver. He was trained in drawing and engraving by his father nicholas III. He was chosen by the financier crozat to illustrate his recueil bringing together the great masterpieces of the finest french and foreign collections. He was skilled in the works of his contemporaries. He also creates lighter subjects reflecting the mores of the eighteenth century.