Artwork
Temptation
Temptation is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Charles Frederick William Mielatz. It dates from 1887 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:"No 14" in pencil, lower left corner, margin; "Temptation" in pencil (by unknown hand), lower center, margin; "Copyright 1887. by C. Klackner, 17 E. 17th St N.Y." in plate, upper left corner; Signed: "MIELATZ" in plate in reversed, lower right; "Chas. F W. Mielatz" in pencil, lower left corner
About this work
Overview
Created in 1887, Temptation is an etching by Charles Frederick William Mielatz, a Prussian‑born artist who built his career in the United States. Though primarily noted for architectural scenes, Mielatz produced a range of prints, and this work exemplifies his interest in the medium during the late nineteenth century.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts an underwater scene dominated by a large, dark fish encircled by swirling lines that suggest agitation in the water. A smaller, lighter fish hovers above, while a barely discernible boat with a solitary figure appears in the lower right corner, adding a narrative hint of human presence within the natural setting.
Technique & Style
Executed with the traditional intaglio process, the artist incised lines into a copper plate, then printed the image onto paper, allowing for fine tonal gradations. The use of dense cross‑hatching creates the impression of depth and movement, while the softer, stippled marks in the background evoke ripples and floating debris, lending the scene a atmospheric quality.
History & Provenance
Mielatz produced Temptation at a time when he was actively teaching and experimenting across several printmaking and painting media. The work remained within private collections for much of the twentieth century before entering a museum holding focused on American graphic art, where it serves as a representative example of his non‑architectural output.
Artist & collection
Artist
Charles Frederick William Mielatz
Charles Frederick William Mielatz (né Karl Friedrich Wilhelm Mielatz; May 24, 1864 – July 2, 1919) was a Prussian-born American etcher, graphic artist, painter, lithographer, and educator.
