Opsomming van prenten naar Teniers in een ornamentele lijst - Jacques-Philippe Le Bas

An eighteenth-century etched catalogue of works by David Teniers the Younger, presented within an ornate Rococo frame by Jacques-Philippe Le Bas.

This print by Jacques-Philippe Le Bas functions as a formal catalogue or index of works by the Flemish master David Teniers the Younger. Le Bas, a prolific French engraver, was instrumental in the dissemination of Dutch and Flemish genre painting across eighteenth-century Europe. The document lists sixty distinct subjects, providing a structured overview of the thematic breadth found in Teniers's output, ranging from village festivities and pastoral scenes to allegorical representations of the senses.

The text is enclosed within an elaborate Rococo frame, a hallmark of the period's decorative aesthetic. The border features asymmetrical scrolls, shell motifs, and fluid, organic lines that contrast with the rigid, orderly columns of the printed list. This juxtaposition of structured typography and ornamental flourish reflects the eighteenth-century interest in both classification and aesthetic refinement. The engraving technique employed here demonstrates the precision required for high-quality reproduction of text and decorative elements alike.

As a historical document, this print offers insight into the commercial circulation of art during the Enlightenment. It records the systematic cataloguing of a painter's oeuvre, a practice that became increasingly common as collectors sought to organise their holdings. The inclusion of specific titles, such as 'Les Philosophes Bachiques' and 'La Guinguette flamande', provides a clear record of the subjects that defined the reception of Teniers in France. The print is not merely a list but a decorative object in its own right, intended to be appreciated for the balance between its informative content and the elegance of its frame. It remains a useful reference for scholars studying the history of printmaking and the reception of Flemish art in the eighteenth century.