Hiver (Le Loup dans la neige)
Medium
etching on laid paper
Dimensions
plate: 20.3 × 32 cm (8 × 12 5/8 in.) sheet: 23.5 × 34.5 cm (9 1/4 × 13 9/16 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1943.3.2100
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
### Hiver (Le Loup dans la neige) Félix Bracquemond's *Hiver (Le Loup la neige)*, created in 1864, the stark beauty and peril of a winter wilderness. This etching depicts a lone wolf navigating deep snow, evoking the raw survival instincts of nature amid France's Romantic fascination with the untamed wild. Bracquemond, a leading figure in the 19th-century etching revival, was renowned for his precise yet atmospheric renderings of animals and landscapes, bridging Realism and emerging Impressionist influences through his friendship with Édouard Manet. Printed on laid paper—a traditional support with visible chain lines that enhanced the tactile quality of fine prints—the work measures a modest plate size of 20.3 × 32 cm. Etching allowed Bracquemond to masterfully incise fine lines into a metal plate, bitten by acid to create velvety textures of snowdrifts and fur. This technique highlighted his innovative approach, elevating printmaking from reproductive art to expressive medium during a time when French artists championed original etchings. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's Rosenwald Collection, this piece reflects mid-19th-century cultural reverence for nature's drama, blending technical virtuosity with emotional depth. Visitors will appreciate its subtle play of light on snow, a testament to Bracquemond's enduring legacy in graphic arts.
About the Artist
Félix Bracquemond · 1833–1914
French, Paris 1833–1914 Sèvres