La Nuée d'orage

Art Historical Context

Félix Bracquemond’s *La Nuée d’orage* (The Storm Cloud), created between 1882 and 1884, captures a fleeting moment in the natural world. The etching and drypoint depicts a flock of ducks amid a windswept landscape beneath gathering clouds, evoking the drama of an approaching storm. As a print in the second of eleven states, the work reveals Bracquemond’s careful revisions, allowing viewers to glimpse the artist’s evolving vision through subtle changes in line and tone. The medium itself is central to the piece’s appeal. Etching and drypoint were experiencing a revival in late-nineteenth-century France, and Bracquemond was among the artists who helped restore their artistic prestige. The fine, velvety lines produced by drypoint add richness to the sky and water, while the atmospheric subject matter reflects a broader interest in capturing transient effects of weather and light. Now part of the Metropolitan Museum’s collection through a 1923 gift, this print offers today’s visitors an intimate look at both technical mastery and the quiet poetry of the natural world.

About the Artist

Félix Bracquemond · 1833–1914

French, Paris 1833–1914 Sèvres