Artwork
The Call to Order
The Call to Order is a print by the Impressionist artist Félix Bracquemond. It dates from 1859 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 1920.664
About this work
Overview
Félix Bracquemond’s 1859 print, The Call to Order, is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection. Executed as an etching, the work presents a tranquil natural tableau that invites close observation of its avian subjects and surrounding landscape.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a small flock, primarily quail, assembled along a grassy bank beside water. Some birds stand poised, while others cluster together, suggesting a moment of quiet vigilance within a peaceful environment.
Technique & Style
Bracquemond employs fine etching lines to render the texture of feathers and foliage, while varying the density of ink creates a subtle chiaroscuro effect. The interplay of light and shadow across the birds’ bodies adds depth and emphasizes the atmospheric quality of the scene.
History & Provenance
Created in the late 1850s, The Call to Order entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings through acquisition, though specific details of its earlier ownership remain undocumented in public records.
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.
