Landschap met kievieten en talingen

About this artwork

J.E. van Doorne-Noordewier Bequest

Art Historical Context

Félix Bracquemond's *Landschap met kievieten en talingen* (Landscape with Lapwings and Teals), created in 1863, captures a serene Dutch-inspired countryside scene alive with wading birds. The French printmaker, a pivotal figure in the 19th-century etching revival, skillfully renders the interplay of light on water, reeds, and the delicate forms of lapwings and teals, evoking the natural world's quiet drama. Measuring 345 × 250 mm, this work reflects Bracquemond's fascination with precise observation and his influences from Japanese prints and masters like Rembrandt. As an etching, the piece highlights Bracquemond's technical prowess in intaglio printing, where acid bites into a metal plate to create rich, textured lines ideal for capturing feathers' subtle patterns and atmospheric depth. In the 1860s, amid Paris's artistic ferment, Bracquemond championed etching as a democratic medium, bridging fine art and reproduction—perfect for intimate landscapes like this. Generously included in the J.E. van Doorne-Noordewier Bequest, it stands as a testament to Bracquemond's legacy in pushing printmaking boundaries, inviting viewers to savor nature's fleeting beauty through his masterful lines.

About the Artist

Félix Bracquemond · 1833–1914

French, Paris 1833–1914 Sèvres