Artwork
The Big Shower
The Big Shower is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Emmanuel Phélippes-Beaulieu. It dates from 1859 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:recto: in plate, along bottom: E P.-B. a. f. Imp. Charpentier Nantes 48.x 11-16 octobre 1859; verso: at bottom right, in graphite, in later hand: 12
- Markings
- Marked:none
About this work
Overview
The Big Shower is an etching by Emmanuel Phélippes-Beaulieu, dated to 1859, executed on chine collé over wove paper. The print depicts a solitary figure standing under a water spray.
Subject & Meaning
The subject is a man under a shower, conveyed through dynamic, expressive lines suggesting movement. The overall effect is one of quiet, intimate immediacy.
Technique & Style
Phélippes-Beaulieu employed a combination of techniques: a needle for scratchy, uneven lines implying motion, and a roulette for dotted textures, notably on the figure's skin to evoke the illusion of water.
History & Provenance
Created in 1859, specific provenance details are not provided in available information.
Context
This etching reflects mid-19th-century explorations in printmaking techniques, particularly the innovative use of roulette for textured effects.
Legacy
The Big Shower demonstrates Phélippes-Beaulieu's contribution to the evolution of etching techniques, though comprehensive legacy details are not specified in the provided sources.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
