Artwork
Intimate Fantasy (Féerie intime)
Intimate Fantasy (Féerie intime) is an ink print by Albert Besnard. It dates from 1901 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower right in graphite: ABesnard / Tiré à 5.; by later hand, lwer left in graphite: Feerie intime 158 III; illegible inscription verso
About this work
Overview
Intimate Fantasy (Féerie intime) is a print created by Albert Besnard in 1901. Executed on laid paper, the work combines etching, aquatint, and drypoint, resulting in a nuanced surface texture. The composition centers on a reclining nude figure, set against a dimly lit backdrop that hints at drapery on the left.
Subject & Meaning
The figure is a woman lying on a chair, her head supported by her right hand, eyes turned inward, suggesting a moment of private contemplation. The subdued lighting and the darkness surrounding her emphasize an intimate atmosphere, inviting viewers to consider the interiority of the pose rather than any narrative action.
Technique & Style
Besnard employs a layered printmaking process: etched lines define the contours, drypoint adds delicate, velvety edges, and aquatint supplies tonal washes that model light and shadow. This combination produces a rich gradation of tones, enhancing the three‑dimensional illusion of the reclining body against the shadowed background.
Context
Produced at the turn of the twentieth century, the work reflects the period’s fascination with the erotic yet introspective portrayal of the female nude. Besnard’s choice of print media aligns with contemporary explorations of texture and tonal subtlety, allowing a single image to convey both sensuality and psychological depth.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
- Sur le lit (On the Bed)
La Muse Accoudée
Femme mettant son bas (Woman Putting On Her Stockings)
Le repos du modèle (4e planche) (The Model's Rest) (fourth plate)
After the Bath (La sortie du bain (Grand planche))
Nude Woman Standing, Drying Herself (Femme nue debout, a sa toilette)
Misery (La Misère)
Woman Reading (Liseuse)
Sur le lit (On the Bed)
Femme nue passant sa chemise (Nude Woman Taking Off Her Chemise)
Evening Wind
In the Embers (Dans les cendres)