Artwork

Inconvenient de quitter

Inconvenient de quitter, by Edouard Bouvenne, ink, 1846
Inconvenient de quitter, by Edouard Bouvenne, ink, 1846

Inconvenient de quitter is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Edouard Bouvenne. It dates from 1846 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Inconvenient de quitter is a hand‑coloured lithograph executed on wove paper in 1846 by the French artist Edouard Bouvenne. The print presents a quiet scene of two figures perched upon a stone wall that crowns a gentle rise, gazing out over a rolling, tree‑dotted landscape beneath a cloudy sky.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on a pair of men, one dressed in a dark coat, the other in a grey coat, both wearing hats and leaning against the wall. Their posture and the expansive view suggest a moment of pause and contemplation, inviting the viewer to share in their reflective stance toward the surrounding nature.

Technique & Style

Created as a lithograph, the image was produced from a stone matrix and subsequently hand‑coloured, a common practice in mid‑nineteenth‑century printmaking to enhance tonal depth. Bouvenne’s handling of line and wash conveys the softness of the clouds and the texture of the foliage, aligning the work with Romantic sensibilities that emphasize mood and atmosphere.

History & Provenance

The print dates to 1846, situating it early in Bouvenne’s career when he was developing his reputation for landscape and portrait subjects. While specific ownership records are scarce, the work exemplifies the artist’s interest in combining narrative figures with natural settings, a theme that recurs throughout his oeuvre.

Inconvénient de quitter...un convoi de chemin de fer...
Inconvénient de quitter...un convoi de chemin de fer..., Honoré Daumier

Artist & collection

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.

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Frequently asked questions

Who painted Inconvenient de quitter?

Inconvenient de quitter was painted by Edouard Bouvenne in 1846.

Where can I see Inconvenient de quitter?

Inconvenient de quitter is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Inconvenient de quitter?

Inconvenient de quitter is associated with Romanticism.

Can I buy a print of Inconvenient de quitter?

Museum-quality prints of Inconvenient de quitter are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.