You May Count on Me - Augustin de Saint-Aubin

A refined eighteenth-century etching by Augustin de Saint-Aubin, depicting a young man in a gesture of quiet assurance.

Augustin de Saint-Aubin was a master of the French printmaking tradition during the eighteenth century. This work, titled 'Comptez sur mes serments' or 'You May Count on Me', captures the refined sensibility of the Rococo period. The subject is a young man, depicted in a half-length pose within an oval frame. He holds his hand to his lips in a gesture of secrecy or quiet assurance, his expression conveying a sense of intimate confidence. The artist employs precise lines and subtle tonal variations to render the texture of the subject's clothing, including the ruffled cuffs and the rose pinned to his waistcoat.

Below the primary portrait, a small, secondary oval vignette features a putto, which adds a layer of allegorical meaning to the composition. This inclusion of a smaller scene is a characteristic device in Saint-Aubin's work, often used to comment on the central theme of love or fidelity. The background of the print is executed with a fine, cross-hatched pattern that provides a neutral setting, allowing the figure to emerge with clarity. The technical skill required to achieve such delicate shading in etching and engraving is evident throughout the piece.

Saint-Aubin was well-regarded for his ability to document the social graces and fashions of his time. His prints often functioned as social commentary, capturing the nuances of gesture and costume that defined the aristocracy and the bourgeoisie of pre-revolutionary France. This print is an example of his meticulous approach to portraiture, where every detail, from the drape of the fabric to the placement of the hands, contributes to the narrative of the scene. The work remains a clear record of the aesthetic values and social codes prevalent in the late eighteenth century.