Artwork
Charles Kean
Charles Kean is a print by the Impressionist artist Félix Bracquemond. It dates from 1871 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 1922.354
- Credit line
- Gift of Salmon P. Halle
About this work
Overview
Félix Bracquemond’s 1871 print titled “Charles Kean” is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection. The work presents a solitary figure engaged in drawing, captured in a brief, observational sketch that emphasizes the immediacy of the scene.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a man bent over a modest table, pencil in hand, his concentration evident as he renders a drawing. A violin rests against a nearby chair, suggesting a quiet, domestic environment where artistic creation and music coexist.
Technique & Style
Bracquemond employs swift, economical lines and subtle shading to convey form and light, focusing on the play of illumination across the figure’s face and shoulders. The economy of stroke aligns the piece with Realist principles that favor unembellished, truthful representation of everyday moments.
History & Provenance
Created in the early 1870s, the print entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings through acquisition (specific details of purchase are not recorded in the source). Its presence in the museum underscores the institution’s interest in 19th‑century French printmaking.
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.
Sketching - George Fuller
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Sketch Class Series - E.W. Perry
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