Artwork
Ducks at play
Ducks at play is a print by the Impressionist artist Félix Bracquemond. It dates from 1870 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 1920.656
About this work
Overview
Félix Bracquemond’s print Ducks at Play, executed around 1870, is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The work depicts a small family of ducks navigating a shallow, reed‑lined pond, with lily pads scattered across the water’s surface. The composition balances foreground intimacy with a broader, marshy backdrop, presenting a quiet moment in nature.
Subject & Meaning
At the centre of the scene a mother duck leads four downy ducklings, their bodies clustered together as they glide through the water. The surrounding reeds and floating foliage frame the birds, suggesting a tranquil habitat where the young are protected and guided by the adult. The image conveys a simple, observational study of domestic wildlife.
Technique & Style
Bracquemond renders the water and feathers with careful modulation of light, creating a sense of volume that gives the figures a near‑three‑dimensional presence. This attention to illumination contrasts with the flatter, line‑driven approaches common in earlier printmaking, indicating a shift toward a more naturalistic rendering of surface and texture.
History & Provenance
Created in the early 1870s, the print entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings as part of its 20th‑century acquisitions program. Its provenance traces back to the artist’s own estate before being transferred through private collectors to the museum, where it remains on view as an example of Bracquemond’s later print work.
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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.
