LE BON GENRE: Four 1800s French Etchings Hand Colored Framed Cuisine Themed

The series of etchings titled "Le Bon Genre: Observations sur les modes et les usages de Paris" {The   Good Style: Observations on the Fashions and Customs of Paris} was published by Pierre Joseph Antoine Le Bouc de Mésangère (1761-1831), better known by the name of Le Mésangère. The first plate was published in April of 1800 and continued to the number 115 by 1822.

Issued singly, they were designed and etched by various artists, whose names were not always given (#44 does have the name of the etcher.) Besides the series title, plate number and descriptive words about the scene, the publisher's address at rue Montmartre 132 is sometimes included. Nos. 4 and 10 have this address on them, printed lower right. 

This group of four etchings on cream colored paper have a cuisine theme; three of the scenes are set in restaurants and one appears to be in a private home. The titles and translations follow:

#106 La Caninomanie ⚜️The Caninomania/Dog Obsessed⚜️The richly dressed woman is offering a slice of roast to her French poodle seated at the table, while her daughter is isolated in the corner, having her fish and bread. 

#44 L'Embarras du Choix ⚜️A Difficult Choice⚜️Two pretty ladies consulting with the waiter to pick from so many flavors on the menu board, while the bonneted lady appears to be already spooning up hers. This plate is marked as etched by Georges-Jacques Gatine, with 'Gatine sculpt' in tiny script lower right {sculpt is the abbreviation for sculpsit, Latin for "He carved."}

#10 Le Déjeuner ⚜️ Lunch ⚜️ A handsomely dressed group of gentlemen and ladies visiting over their luncheon. 

#4  Les Glaces ⚜️ Ice Cream⚜️ Three ladies enjoying ice cream cones while consulting with the waiter about the flavors on his menu board.

Each of the etchings measures 16 1/4 inches by 17 3/4 inches in their frames. The 1/2 inch wide frames are wood composed of three moldings, the center one two-tone gray flanked by a gold one on either side. The outside edges of the frame are a marbleized gold and black.  

The frames are chippy, very much shabby chic. The mats surrounding the etchings are a pinkish cream color with gold inner edges. Both mats and etchings have some brown spots (foxing, but none are objectionable. The glass on all four has no flaws that we found. 

Prior to the publication of Le Bon Genre etchings, printed Parisian scenes of the growing French middle-class bourgeoisie were rarely seen. These etchings are playfully, gently satirical, depicting the foibles and airs of the nouveau riche in post-Revolution France. They're an important record of French social history, fascinating in their myriad details and wonderfully decorative, creating a beautiful gallery wall or hanging individually. 

⚜️Please Note: Due to lighting variations when photographing through glass, the etchings may show areas of different colors. The individual photos of each one framed are the most accurate. 

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