Who painted Oeuvres de A. Calame: No. 52?

Oeuvres de A. Calame: No. 52 was painted by Alexandre Calame in 1855.

Where can I see Oeuvres de A. Calame: No. 52?

Oeuvres de A. Calame: No. 52 is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Oeuvres de A. Calame: No. 52?

Oeuvres de A. Calame: No. 52 is associated with Romanticism.

Can I buy a print of Oeuvres de A. Calame: No. 52?

Museum-quality prints of Oeuvres de A. Calame: No. 52 are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Oeuvres de A. Calame: No. 52

Alexandre Calame , 1855

Oeuvres de A. Calame: No. 52 is a print by the Romanticist artist Alexandre Calame. It dates from 1855 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 2014.367
Credit line: Bequest of John Bonebrake

About this work

Overview

This print, numbered 52 in a series of Alexandre Calame's works, dates to approximately 1855. It is part of a published collection and is currently held by The Cleveland Museum of Art. The composition presents a quiet, elevated landscape with attention to natural detail, reflecting Calame’s focus on Alpine scenery and atmospheric observation.

Subject & Meaning

A rocky outcrop, densely vegetated with trees and shrubs, rises toward a distant valley. Two diminutive figures rest on a ledge, their presence suggesting contemplation rather than action. The scale emphasizes human modesty within nature’s vastness, evoking a mood of solitude and quiet reverence without narrative or symbolism.

Technique & Style

Calame employs fine, controlled lines and subtle tonal gradations to model form. Shading creates a sense of volume in the rocks and foliage, while the soft, diffused sky contrasts with the textured ground. The precision of the draftsmanship avoids rigidity, maintaining a naturalistic rhythm that aligns with Romantic landscape traditions.

History & Provenance

Produced as part of a numbered series of prints, this work was likely distributed to collectors interested in Swiss and Alpine scenery during the mid-19th century. It entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection through documented acquisition, preserving its place within Calame’s broader graphic oeuvre.

Context

Calame worked during a period when detailed landscape studies gained popularity among European audiences. His prints responded to growing interest in naturalism and the sublime, influenced by travel literature and scientific observation of terrain. This print reflects a shift from idealized vistas toward intimate, observed nature.

Legacy

Though less widely known than his paintings, Calame’s prints contributed to the dissemination of Alpine imagery in the 19th century. Their technical refinement and restrained emotion influenced later generations of printmakers focused on landscape realism, establishing a quiet but enduring presence in graphic art history.