Artwork
La Vitrioleuse (The Acid Thrower)
La Vitrioleuse (The Acid Thrower) is a watercolor print by the Impressionist artist Eugène Grasset. It dates from 1894 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower right in stone: EGT (in monogram); lower right below image in graphite: EGrasset No 14; lower center in stone: V[erdouc]D[ucourtiaux]H[uillard] (in monogram) / sc.; by later hand, lower left verso in graphite: APG 15640
- Markings
- Marked:BS: L'Estampe originale
About this work
Overview
La Vitrioleuse (The Acid Thrower) is a 1894 print by Eugène Samuel Grasset, a Swiss artist active in Paris. Created using photo-relief with watercolor stenciling, it exemplifies Grasset's work in multiple mediums.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a woman in a black dress with long red hair, holding a white bowl. Her serious expression and the image's association with late 19th-century social commentary suggest a narrative or symbolic intent.
Technique & Style
Grasset's use of photo-relief and watercolor stenciling achieves a detailed, realistic representation. The contrast between the orange background and black dress creates a visually striking effect, characteristic of the Art Nouveau style.
Context
As a pioneer of Art Nouveau, Grasset's work reflects the movement's emphasis on decorative and illustrative elements. La Vitrioleuse (The Acid Thrower) is a product of this artistic context.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Eugène Samuel Grasset (French pronunciation: ; 25 May 1845 – 23 October 1917) was a Swiss decorative artist who worked in Paris, France in a variety of creative design fields during the Belle Époque.
