Zulfi - Anne Claude Philippe de Thubières, comte de Caylus

A fine etching by the comte de Caylus, reproducing a figure study by Antoine Watteau with delicate, rhythmic line work.

This etching, titled Zulfi, is a reproduction after a drawing by the French painter Antoine Watteau. It was executed by the comte de Caylus, a significant figure in eighteenth-century French art circles who was known for his interest in antiquities and his efforts to preserve the graphic work of his contemporaries. The print captures a seated female figure dressed in exoticised attire, a common theme in the period, which often drew inspiration from the Near East or theatrical costume.

The line work is characteristic of the etching techniques employed by Caylus to translate Watteau's fluid, chalk-based sketches into a reproducible format. The artist uses a series of delicate, rhythmic strokes to define the folds of the fabric and the posture of the sitter. The composition is simple, focusing entirely on the figure against a plain background, which allows the viewer to observe the specific handling of the drapery and the subtle expression of the subject. The print bears the inscription 'Watteau Inv.' and 'Grave par Cx.', indicating the collaborative nature of the project, where Caylus acted as the engraver for the original invention of Watteau.

This work belongs to a larger body of prints produced by Caylus and other associates of the collector Jean de Jullienne, who sought to document the entirety of Watteau's output. These prints were essential in disseminating the style of the Rococo period across Europe. The print retains the character of a sketch, prioritising the spontaneity of the original drawing over the rigid finish often found in formal engravings of the era. It provides a clear view into the methods used by eighteenth-century printmakers to record the ephemeral nature of preparatory studies.