Artwork
Siegfried and the Rhine Maidens
Siegfried and the Rhine Maidens is a crayon drawing by the Romanticist artist Henri Fantin-Latour. It dates from 1870 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower left in black crayon: Fantin; in later hand, upper center verso in graphite: H. Fantin-Latour 1836-1904 / Siegfried et les Filles du Rhin / in crayon / ... Plate 2
About this work
Overview
Siegfried and the Rhine Maidens is a drawing created by Henri Fantin-Latour in 1870 using black crayon on paperboard. It depicts a scene from Germanic mythology.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing shows Siegfried, a hero from Germanic mythology, on horseback, with his arm outstretched. The scene is shrouded in darkness and obscurity, with the horse and rider blending into a hazy, indistinct background.
Technique & Style
The use of black crayon on paperboard gives the drawing a loose, sketchy quality, with soft edges and a lack of detail. The resulting effect is dreamy and suggestive, rather than precise or representational.
Context
The drawing's emphasis on mood and atmosphere over precision is characteristic of the Romanticism movement, which prioritizes evocation and feeling.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Ignace Henri Jean Theodore Fantin-Latour (French pronunciation:; 14 January 1836 – 25 August 1904) was a French painter and lithographer best known for his flower paintings and group portraits of Parisian artists and writers.
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