Head of a Raven in Profile, from The Raven (Le Corbeau)
1875
Medium
Transfer lithograph in black on tan simili-parchment paper
Dimensions
Image: 16.3 × 15.9 cm (6 7/16 × 6 5/16 in.); Sheet folded: 55 × 41.2 cm (21 11/16 × 16 1/4 in.)
Classification
gillotage
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
111362
Art Historical Context
Édouard Manet, a pioneering French artist whose bold approach helped pave the way for Impressionism, created this striking Head of a Raven in Profile in 1875. Drawn from his illustrations for The Raven (Le Corbeau), the work captures the bird in a simple yet intense profile, using economical lines that convey mystery and presence. Manet, better known for his paintings of modern life, here turned his eye to graphic art, infusing the image with the same directness and vitality that defined his style. The print is a transfer lithograph in black ink on tan simili-parchment paper, a choice that gi...