Who painted Charles Meryon?

Charles Meryon was painted by Félix Bracquemond in 1854.

Where can I see Charles Meryon?

Charles Meryon is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Charles Meryon?

Charles Meryon is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Charles Meryon

Félix Bracquemond , 1854

Charles Meryon is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Félix Bracquemond. It dates from 1854 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1854, this print by Félix Henri Bracquemond portrays the French etcher Charles Meryon. Executed in brown‑black and a touch of red on laid paper, the image presents Meryon in profile, his hair rendered in loose, tangled strokes and his beard densely textured, illuminated from the left against a predominantly dark background.

Subject & Meaning

The portrait captures the likeness of Meryon, a noted 19th‑century artist celebrated for his own etchings of Parisian architecture. By focusing on his facial features and the interplay of light and shadow, Bracquemond emphasizes the intensity and individuality of the sitter, hinting at the creative vigor that defined Meryon’s work.

Technique & Style

Bracquemond employed traditional etching, incising lines into a metal plate before printing onto laid paper. The composition combines stark brown‑black tones with selective red accents, including the artist’s monogram B.a.C.M. in the corner. The rapid, tangled rendering of hair and the textured beard demonstrate a loose, expressive hand characteristic of mid‑century French printmaking.

History & Provenance

Félix Henri Bracquemond (1822‑1894) was a French painter, etcher, and printmaker who contributed to the revival of printmaking in the mid‑1800s. Though primarily known for his own artistic output, Bracquemond’s work influenced contemporaries such as Édouard Manet and Edgar Degas and later intersected with the Japonisme movement through his ceramic designs.