Frontispiece for "L'Affaire Clémenceau"
1905
Medium
etching in black on cream laid paper
Dimensions
plate: 22.2 x 15.2 cm (8 3/4 x 6 in.) sheet: 27.8 x 17.9 cm (10 15/16 x 7 1/16 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Bell
Accession Number
1993.71.8
Art Historical Context
Albert Besnard's *Frontispiece for "'Affaire Clémau"* (1905) is a striking etching that captures the drama of early 20th-century French and scandal. Created as the title page illustration for a book on the notorious "Clémenceau Affair"—involving the fiery statesman Georges Clémenceau accusations of corruption and personal intrigue—this print reflects the era's fascination with public controversies. Besnard, a prominent French artist known for his dynamic Symbolist influences and mastery of light and shadow, bridges fine art and illustration here, showcasing his versatility during the Belle Épo...
About the Artist
Albert Besnard
Paul-Albert Besnard, known as Albert Besnard, was born on June 2, 1849, in Paris to an artistic family: his father, Louis Adolphe Ferdinand Besnard, was a history painter and pupil of Ingres, while his mother, Marie Louise Pauline Vaillant, was a noted miniaturist trained under Lizinska de Mirbel. Precociously talented, he began his training under Jean-François Brémond before entering the École de...