Antique engraving Picturesque France, Ille-et-Vilaine costumes, decorative art

AFW - Antique France Worldwide

Description

This piece is an authentic antique engraving, presented on a gilded cardboard mount. The central black and white image depicts three figures in traditional costumes, set in a detailed rural landscape. The fine lines and precision of the drawing suggest an etching technique, typical of 19th-century productions. At the top of the image is the inscription "FRANCE PITTORESQUE.", and at the bottom, the caption "Costumes du dép.t d’Ille et Vilaine", indicating a regionalist subject dedicated to traditional Breton clothing.

The scene shows two men seated, wearing wide hats, and a woman standing on the right, dressed in a distinctive coiffe and a long shawl. The clothing details – pleats of skirts, fabric textures, accessories such as the basket on the ground – are finely rendered. The background hints at a hedgerow landscape, enhancing the picturesque atmosphere of the composition. The engraving is neatly centered in a cream passe-partout with vertical grooves, highlighted by a thin brown border.

The graphic style, the typography of the captions, and the ethnographic subject are characteristic of 19th-century illustrated collections, often intended to document French provinces and their traditions. No artist or publisher name is legible on the visible side, but the craftsmanship and presentation are typical of historical popularization works or collections of antique engravings.

The cardboard mount shows some brownish oxidation spots, mainly around the engraving, without affecting the readability of the image. The edges of the mount show a slight patina, consistent with an old object, but the whole remains stable and ready to be framed or displayed as is.

This decorative antique engraving, a testament to regional clothing heritage, will find its place in a classic interior, a library, or an office, alone or in association with other period graphic works.

Condition

Used item, sold as is. Presence of visible oxidation spots on the cardboard mount and slight traces of handling, without major alteration to the image.

Did you know? Collections of engravings such as "La France pittoresque" largely contributed, in the 19th century, to the dissemination of French regional imagery. They served to visually document local customs at a time when photography was not yet widespread.

AFW Reassurance

Careful packaging and fast shipping. You benefit from a professional service specializing in antique and graphic objects.

Keywords: antique engraving, regional costume, picturesque France, 19th-century graphic art, Brittany illustration, vintage decor, etching, rural scene, antique artwork, old print, traditional costume, retro wall decor