Mde de Fleurs - Jean Duplessis-Bertaux

An etching by Jean Duplessis-Bertaux depicting flower sellers with their donkeys, captured with the precise line work of the late eighteenth century.

This etching by Jean Duplessis-Bertaux captures a scene of daily life in late eighteenth-century France. The work, titled Mde de Fleurs, depicts two women engaged in the trade of flowers. One figure is mounted upon a donkey, while the second walks alongside, guiding a second animal laden with baskets of potted plants. The composition is defined by the clean, precise line work characteristic of the period, focusing on the figures and their immediate surroundings rather than an expansive background.

Duplessis-Bertaux was a prolific etcher and draughtsman, known for his ability to document military campaigns and social scenes with equal clarity. His technical approach relies on fine, controlled strokes to define the texture of the clothing, the forms of the animals, and the botanical details within the baskets. The scene is framed by a simple border, a common convention in print series of the era, which directs the viewer's attention to the narrative interaction between the two women. The inclusion of small, distant figures in the background provides a sense of scale and suggests a wider urban or peri-urban environment without distracting from the primary subjects.

As a genre piece, this print offers a glimpse into the itinerant commerce of the time. The artist avoids excessive ornamentation, preferring a direct, observational style that records the costume and customs of the working class. The balance between the static, seated figure and the dynamic, walking figure creates a rhythmic quality across the frame. This print is a representative example of the graphic output produced in France during a period of significant social change, where the documentation of common trades became a popular subject for collectors of fine prints.