Artwork
Le Haut d'un battant de porte (Birds Nailed to a Barn Door)
Le Haut d'un battant de porte (Birds Nailed to a Barn Door) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Félix Bracquemond. It dates from 1852 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:recto: in plate, in image, at lower right: FBracquemond / del & fec / 1865; lower center in image, on tablet: Ici, tu vois tristement pendre / Oiseaux pillards et convoiteux... / A leurs pareils c'est pour apprendre / Que voler and voler sont deux.; in plate, below image, at left: Bracquemond sculp.; in plate, above image, at right: 177.; in plate, below image, at center: LE HAUT D'UN BATTANT DE PORTE. / Paris, Publié par CADART & LUQUET, Editeurs, 79. Rue Richelieu; in plate, below image, at right: Imp. Delâtre, Rue St. Jacques, 303, Paris; verso: none
- Markings
- Marked:blindstamp of Cadart et Luquet (Lugt 424)
About this work
Overview
Le Haut d'un battant de porte (Birds Nailed to a Barn Door) is an 1852 etching on laid paper by French artist Félix Henri Bracquemond, showcasing his printmaking skills. The piece presents a rustic, contemplative scene of various birds and a bat nailed to a wooden barn door, with meticulous detail characteristic of etching.
Subject & Meaning
The etching depicts a crow, hawk, and other birds, along with a bat, in diverse poses, some seemingly in flight. A small wooden sign at the bottom-right bears a French inscription, likely a poetic or philosophical quote, enhancing the work's reflective tone and inviting contemplation on nature's beauty and fragility.
Technique & Style
Executed in etching, the piece exemplifies Bracquemond's mastery of the medium through precise, detailed renderings of textures and forms, from the birds' plumage to the door's wooden planks and metal hinge.
History & Provenance
Created in 1852, this etching reflects Bracquemond's contribution to the revival of French printmaking. While specific provenance details are not provided, the work aligns with Bracquemond's broader influence on artists like Manet and Degas, and his involvement in early Japonisme through ceramics.
Context
Part of a broader artistic landscape, the etching connects to Bracquemond's family ties (he was married to Impressionist painter Marie Bracquemond) and his multidisciplinary practice, spanning painting, etching, and ceramic design influenced by Japonisme.
Legacy
As a testament to Bracquemond's printmaking prowess, Le Haut d'un battant de porte contributes to his legacy as an influential figure in 19th-century French art, impacting subsequent generations of artists across various mediums.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Félix Henri Bracquemond was a French painter, etcher, and printmaker. He played a key role in the revival of printmaking, encouraging artists such as Édouard Manet, Edgar Degas and Camille Pissarro to use this technique.
