Artwork
Henri Becque
Henri Becque is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Auguste Rodin. It dates from 1885 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Auguste Rodin created the drypoint print Henri Becque in 1885, a portrait of the French playwright. The work is characteristic of Rodin's experimental approach to representation.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts Henri Becque, a figure from Rodin's circle, alongside two other men with similar beards and hairstyles. The subjects' rough, textured features are rendered in expressive, scratchy lines.
Technique & Style
Rodin employed drypoint, a technique that involves scratching a design directly onto a plate, to achieve the print's textured, spontaneous effect. The resulting image features dark lines against a warm, yellowish background.
Context
The print reflects Rodin's engagement with portraiture, a genre that complemented his sculptural practice. Rodin's innovative approach to modeling and representation is evident in the work's loose, expressive strokes.
Artist & collection
Artist
François Auguste René Rodin (; French: ; 12 November 1840 – 17 November 1917) was a French sculptor generally considered the founder of modern sculpture.
