The Gondreville Fair.
XVII century
Etching and burin. 180x320mm. Trimmed on the plate mark. State 2/4. Bottom left 'Ia. Callot fe. Nanceij.'
Magnificent representation of a village fair, known as the Gondreville fair. Under a majestic oak tree there are several characters. On the right some men in feathered hats are playing bowls. Behind them, a man and a rooster are resting on a plow and a gentleman is walking with a woman. In the center we see many people, mostly seen from behind, who are talking, greeting each other or walking around; further on others are dancing in a circle accompanied by the music of a trumpet and a drum coming from two musicians sitting on a branch of the tree. On the left, a young girl carries a large flowering branch with her; further to the left some villagers draw water from the well, near the house behind them some drinkers are seated around a table. In the background houses just mentioned.
Lieure entitles the engraving : La Fiore de Gondreville pièce appelée aussi La Fête du Village, La Petite Foire, Le Bal Champêtre, Le Jeu de Boules (The Fair at Gondreville also called The Village Festival, The Little Fair, The Country Dance, The Game of Bowls).