Iza Sleeping (Le Sommeil d'Iza)

Art Historical Context

In the intimate etching and aquatint *Iza Sleeping (Lemeil d'Iza)* from 1885, French artist Albert Besnard captures a tender moment of repose, evoking quiet beauty of everyday life. Besnard (1849–1934), a leading figure in late 19th-century French, bridged painting and printmaking with his luminous, expressive style influenced by Symbolism and the decorative arts. This small-scale work (plate: 16.7 × 11.5 cm) invites viewers into a private, dreamlike scene, showcasing his skill in rendering subtle emotions through line and tone. The medium—etching and aquatint on laid paper—highlights Besnard's technical innovation. Etching creates precise, fluid lines via acid-bitten copper plates, while aquatint adds velvety tonal areas resembling watercolor washes, allowing for atmospheric depth and softness ideal for a sleeping figure's gentle curves and shadows. This combination elevated printmaking from reproductive tool to independent art form during the fin-de-siècle revival in France. A cherished gift to the National Gallery of Art from Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Bell, honoring the museum's 50th anniversary, this print exemplifies Besnard's mastery and the enduring appeal of 19th-century intimate portraiture in the CG-E Prints department.

About the Artist

Albert Besnard · 1849–1934

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...