Artwork
Cerf Dix-Cors
Cerf Dix-Cors is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Karl Bodmer. It dates from 1851 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Cerf Dix-Cors is a lithograph created by Karl Bodmer in 1851, exemplifying his expertise in printmaking, particularly in capturing natural subjects.
Subject & Meaning
The lithograph depicts a mature buck with ten antler points in a snowy forest, conveying Bodmer's attention to detail in documenting wildlife. The buck's maturity is emphasized by the fully developed antlers.
Technique & Style
Bodmer employed fine lines to achieve realistic textures for the deer's fur and surrounding branches. Subtle details, such as the deer's breath visible as a faint mist, enhance the piece's naturalism.
History & Provenance
Preceding the lithograph, Bodmer's travels with an explorer in the 1830s influenced his work, as evidenced by his detailed drawings of the American West's fauna and flora, undertaken before the widespread use of cameras.
Context
Bodmer's career spanned recognition in Germany for river and cityscape depictions before relocating to France, where he continued to focus on natural subjects through various mediums, including lithography, watercolor, and etching.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Johann Carl Bodmer (11 February 1809 – 30 October 1893) was a Swiss-French printmaker, etcher, lithographer, zinc engraver, draughtsman, painter, illustrator, and hunter.
