Artwork
River Landscape with a Bridge; Monkey Paging through a Book
River Landscape with a Bridge; Monkey Paging through a Book is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Alexandre Gabriel Decamps. It dates from 1832 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. This etching, created in 1832 by Alexandre-Gabriel Decamps, presents two distinct scenes on a single sheet of wove paper.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower left, in graphite: DC; lower center in graphite: Singe feuillelant un gros livre, et paysage M.14 RRR; verso, lower right in graphite 97/200; neee; 312
About this work
Overview
This etching, created in 1832 by Alexandre-Gabriel Decamps, presents two distinct scenes on a single sheet of wove paper. The print combines a river landscape with a bridge and a monkey paging through a book, showcasing the artist's experimentation with disparate subjects on one plate.
Subject & Meaning
The image is divided into two contrasting scenes: a dark, introspective room with a person and a monkey, and a serene river landscape with a bridge and figures. The juxtaposition of these scenes invites the viewer to consider their relationship and the emotions they evoke.
Technique & Style
Decamps employed quick, expressive lines to convey movement and atmosphere in the etching. The contrast between the quiet, mysterious top scene and the busy, calm river landscape below is achieved through varying line weights and textures, characteristic of the etching technique.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Alexandre-Gabriel Decamps was a French painter noted for his Orientalist works.
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