Etched copperplate "Landscape with Ducks" by Adolphe Appian
1877-1879
Classification
Printing plate
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Accession Number
1951-91-1
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Adolphe Appian (1818–1898), a prominent French artist of the Barbizon School, the serene beauty of nature in his etched copperplate *Landscape with Ducks* (1877–1879). As a master etcher and landscape painter, Appian drew inspiration from the rural French countryside, emphasizing atmospheric effects and naturalistic details. This printing plate, preserved in the Smithsonian American Art Museum collection, exemplifies his dedication to translating the subtle play of light and water into intricate lines. Etching on copperplate was a hallmark of the 19th-century etching revival, allowing artists...