Abundance Color Print Appraisal

"L'Abondance" (Abundance) color print

This item is a framed color print, likely hand-colored, depicting a street scene featuring several figures dressed in period attire. The print is characterized by its vibrant, yet subtly blended, color palette, primarily showcasing reds, blues, whites, yellows, and muted architectural tones. The central figures include a male vendor in a red coat and dark breeches, holding out fruit from a basket, interacting with two elaborately dressed women. One woman wears a white dress with a prominent yellow sash and hat, while the other is in a red gown with a dark top and bonnet. A child or smaller figure in a similar red coat and hat stands beside the vendor. In the background, architectural elements with arched doorways and windows suggest a European street or marketplace setting. Another figure in darker attire is visible in the left background. The print is bordered by a thin black line, and the paper itself has a slightly textured appearance. There are visible condition issues, particularly on the right and top edges of the paper, where discoloration, creasing, and minor tears or abrasions are present. This suggests some age and handling wear. A signature, possibly 'J. Pepin' or similar, is faintly visible in the lower right corner of the print's image area. The overall style, including the clothing and architectural details, points to a late 18th or early 19th-century European aesthetic, possibly Rococo or Neoclassical period. The craftsmanship appears to be of good quality for a period print, with attention to detail in the figures' expressions and drapery.