Artwork
A Form Has Rushed amidst Them from the Dark
A Form Has Rushed amidst Them from the Dark is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Ferdinand Joubert. It dates from 1846 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:upper right in plate: 9.; at bottom in plate: G.E. Hicks delt. / F. Joubert, sc. / A form has rushed amidst them from the dark, / And spread his arms, ___ and fell upon the floor. / Art-Union of London, 1846.
- Markings
- Marked:stamped upper right verso in blue ink: Corcoran Gallery of Art. Washington. D.C. Jun 12 1882
About this work
Overview
Ferdinand Joubert’s 1846 engraving, titled A Form Has Rushed amidst Them from the Dark, presents a compact interior scene rendered in black ink on wove paper. The composition captures a moment of violent confrontation among four figures, illuminated by a subdued light that accentuates the tension of the encounter.
Subject & Meaning
The central action shows a sword‑wielding man attacking a crouching opponent who raises his arms in defense. A woman stands behind the defender, her expression one of anxiety, while another armed figure watches from the left. The tableau suggests themes of sudden danger and protective urgency within a confined domestic space.
Technique & Style
Joubert employs dense cross‑hatching to model forms and convey depth, allowing the figures to emerge from the shadowy background with a palpable sense of volume. The stark monochrome palette and careful modulation of line create a dramatic chiaroscuro effect that heightens the scene’s immediacy.
History & Provenance
Created in the mid‑nineteenth century, the print reflects Joubert’s proficiency in the engraving medium during a period when such works were widely circulated for both artistic and illustrative purposes. While specific ownership records are limited, the piece remains documented in collections that focus on 19th‑century French printmaking.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
