Who painted Les Cigognes (The Storks)?

Les Cigognes (The Storks) was painted by Félix Bracquemond in 1874.

Where can I see Les Cigognes (The Storks)?

Les Cigognes (The Storks) is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Les Cigognes (The Storks)?

Les Cigognes (The Storks) is associated with Impressionism.

Can I buy a print of Les Cigognes (The Storks)?

Museum-quality prints of Les Cigognes (The Storks) are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Les Cigognes (The Storks)

Félix Bracquemond , 1874

Les Cigognes (The Storks) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Félix Bracquemond. It dates from 1874 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created circa 1874, Les Cigognes is an etching on chine collé mounted on wove paper by French artist Félix Henri Bracquemond.

Inscription: Inscribed:recto: in plate, above image, at left: 271.; in plate, below image, at left: Bracquemond sculp; in plate, below image, at right: Imp Delâtre, Rue St. Jacques, Paris; in plate, below image, at center: LES CIGOGNES; by later hand, lower left in graphite: A53000; verso: none
Markings: Marked:none

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1874, Les Cigognes is an etching on chine collé mounted on wove paper by French artist Félix Henri Bracquemond. The print depicts a dimly lit interior where a figure leans over a small bird, possibly a stork, adjusting its headgear. Sharp linear marks and deep shadows give the scene a tactile sense of space and tension.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on a solitary figure engaged in the careful handling of a bird, suggesting themes of nurture or preparation associated with stork nesting habits. The title reinforces this focus, inviting viewers to consider the intimate act of tending to a creature within a modest, shadowed setting.

Technique & Style

Bracquemond employed traditional etching methods, incising lines into a metal plate before transferring the image onto a chine collé support. The use of wove paper and the collage-like chine collé surface enhance the texture, while the pronounced hatching and cross‑hatching create depth and atmospheric contrast typical of 19th‑century printmaking.

History & Provenance

The work belongs to the period when Bracquemond was instrumental in reviving French printmaking, a movement that influenced contemporaries such as Édouard Manet and Edgar Degas. Though specific ownership records are scarce, the print reflects Bracquemond’s broader engagement with the medium during his mid‑1870s output.

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Artist & collection

Artist

Félix Bracquemond

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.