1093

About this artwork

Aankoop uit het F.G. Waller-Fonds

Art Historical Context

Henri Charles Guérard's *1093* (1895) is a etching, measuring just 115 mm high 104 mm wide, close contemplation in the tradition of intimate 19th-century printmaking. Created during the height of the etching revival in France, this work exemplifies the medium's precision: acid etched into a metal plate to produce rich, nuanced lines and textures, often allowing artists like Guérard to explore light, shadow, and subtle detail with remarkable finesse. Guérard (1846–1917), a versatile French artist and close associate of Impressionists like Edgar Degas, championed printmaking as a democratic art form. His style blended realist observation with influences from Japanese ukiyo-e prints, emphasizing spontaneity and atmospheric effects—hallmarks of the era's avant-garde experimentation. Though the specific subject of *1093* remains enigmatic, its modest scale suggests a focus on everyday elegance or portraiture, common in Guérard's oeuvre. Acquired via the F.G. Waller Fund—a testament to early 20th-century Dutch patronage of international prints—this piece underscores etching's cultural bridge between France and the Netherlands, preserving a snapshot of fin-de-siècle innovation for modern eyes.