Cover for Eaux Fortes Nouvelles

Art Historical Context

Welcome to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints collection, where you'll find the striking *Cover for Eaux Fort Nouvelles*, an etching by François-Nicol Chifflart, published by V. Cadart. Created around the mid-19th centurydate not specified), this print measures 17 5/16 × 11 13/16 inches on the sheet, serving as the elegant frontispiece for *Eaux-Fortes Nouvelles*—a groundbreaking series of original etchings launched by Cadart in 1862. Chifflart, a skilled French illustrator and etcher active in the 1860s–1880s, captures the spirit of this innovative publication, which championed etching as a fine art rather than mere reproduction. Publisher V. Cadart played a pivotal role in Paris's etching revival, fostering a community of artists like Whistler and Corot to produce affordable, artist-driven prints. This cover exemplifies that movement, blending intricate line work with decorative flair to advertise the album's fresh, experimental etchings. Etching's beauty lies in its fluid, expressive lines, achieved by coating a metal plate with acid-resistant ground, scratching designs, and immersing in acid to "bite" the grooves. Donated in 1926 by Bella C. Landauer, this piece invites us to appreciate how 19th-century innovators democratized art, making high-quality prints accessible to collectors and enthusiasts alike. A testament to printmaking's golden age!

About the Artist

François-Nicolas Chifflart|V. Cadart · 1825–1901

François-Nicolas Chifflart was born on March 21, 1825, in Saint-Omer, France, to Antoine-Omer Chifflart, a skilled locksmith, carver, and engraver who introduced his son to metal engraving while working for tobacco pipe manufacturer Louis Fiolet. From an early age, Chifflart studied at the local municipal school of design before moving to Paris in 1844, where he entered the École des Beaux-Arts an...