Artwork

Boubouroche; Valet de coeur

Boubouroche; Valet de coeur, by Henri-Gabriel Ibels, ink, 1892
Boubouroche; Valet de coeur, by Henri-Gabriel Ibels, ink, 1892

Boubouroche; Valet de coeur is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Henri-Gabriel Ibels. It dates from 1892 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription
Inscribed:lower right in stone: H. G Ibels; by later hand, lower right verso in graphite: Theâtre Libre 1892-93 Boubouroche; by later hand, lower left verso in graphite: 840387
Markings
Marked:recto: none; verso: black-stamped circular stamp: Ader Picard-Tajan / (1) 261.80.07 PARIS [center of circle]; Vente des 19 et 20 Juin 1984 - BOUTARIC/SERUSIER [outer rim of circle]

About this work

Overview

Henri‑Gabriel Ibels produced the color lithograph Boubouroche; Valet de coeur in 1892. Executed on laid paper as a proof before the addition of lettering, the work presents a compact, brightly lit scene rendered in flat areas of colour and pronounced outlines, characteristic of the print medium rather than a painted tableau.

Subject & Meaning

The composition depicts two figures within an oddly shaped urban setting. A bent figure on the left clutches a small object, while a second figure on the right turns away, back to the viewer. Behind them a bridge spans a river populated by boats, and a modest house rests on the bank, suggesting a fleeting moment in a bustling locale.

Technique & Style

Ibels employed the lithographic process, drawing directly onto a stone or metal plate with greasy media before transferring the image onto laid paper. The print’s flat colour fields and bold contour lines emphasize graphic clarity, aligning the work with the decorative tendencies of late‑19th‑century printmaking and distancing it from the painterly detail of contemporary oil paintings.

History & Provenance

Created as a proof prior to the addition of textual elements, the lithograph reflects Ibels’s involvement with the avant‑garde circles of Paris in the 1890s. While specific ownership records are scarce, the piece remains documented as part of the artist’s printed oeuvre, illustrating his engagement with commercial and artistic print production during that period.

Boubouroche; Valet de coeur
Boubouroche; Valet de coeur, Henri-Gabriel Ibels

Artist & collection

Portrait of Henri-Gabriel Ibels

Artist

Henri-Gabriel Ibels

Henri-Gabriel Ibels (1867–1936) was a French artist, born in 10ᵗʰ arrondissement of Paris.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.

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Frequently asked questions

Who painted Boubouroche; Valet de coeur?

Boubouroche; Valet de coeur was painted by Henri-Gabriel Ibels in 1892.

Where can I see Boubouroche; Valet de coeur?

Boubouroche; Valet de coeur is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Boubouroche; Valet de coeur?

Boubouroche; Valet de coeur is associated with Impressionism.

Can I buy a print of Boubouroche; Valet de coeur?

Museum-quality prints of Boubouroche; Valet de coeur are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.