Woman of Barcelona, Hand-Colored Engraving from Costume Espagnol, Paris, c.1805

Woman of Barcelona, Hand-Colored Engraving from *Costume Espagnol*, Martinet, Paris, c.1805

Description:

This graceful hand-colored engraving, titled “Femme de Barcelone” (Woman of Barcelona), is Plate 26 from the Costume Espagnol series, published in Paris by Aaron Martinet around 1805. It represents a woman from Barcelona dressed in traditional Spanish attire, rendered with the refined linework and delicate coloring typical of early 19th-century French fashion and ethnographic prints.

The elegant figure stands in profile, wearing a long flowing blue gown with layered fabric and a high empire waistline, reflecting neoclassical influences of the period. Draped over her head and shoulders is a light shawl or mantilla edged with floral embroidery, hinting at the cultural blending of Catalan tradition and early 19th-century European fashion. Her hair is partly concealed beneath the veil, adorned with a decorative headdress or comb, while her red slippers add a vivid accent to the overall cool tones of the composition.

Martinet’s Costume Espagnol series belongs to a broader European interest in documenting regional and national costumes, a trend that flourished during the Napoleonic era. These works not only served as artistic studies of dress but also reflected the fascination with the diversity of European cultures and the refinement of Parisian printmaking.

Condition report:

Fine impression with fresh, original hand coloring. Slight toning and faint foxing typical for the age, but overall in good condition with a distinct plate mark and full margins.

Framing tips:

Perfectly suited to a gold or dark wood frame with an off-white or pale blue mat to enhance the subtle coloring and elegance of the composition. Floating the print will best display the plate mark and publisher’s inscription.

Technique: Hand-colored copper engraving

Maker: Published by Aaron Martinet, Libraire, Rue du Coq No. 13 et 15, Paris, circa 1805