Pheasant

Art Historical Context

Behold Félix Bracquemond's *Pheasant* (1866), a etching on gray-blue w paper, measuring 30 45 cm. Housed in the National Gallery of Art Rosenwald Collection, this print exemplifies the French artist's prowess as a leading etcher of the 19th century. Bracquemond, a key figure in the revival of etching as a fine art medium, captured the bird's elegant form with intricate line work, evoking the natural grace and detailed plumage of its subject. Created during a period when French printmaking flourished alongside emerging movements like Impressionism—Bracquemond was a close associate of Édouard Manet—this work highlights etching's intaglio technique. Acid bites into a metal plate to create recessed lines filled with ink, allowing for rich tonal variations and textures ideal for rendering feathers and subtle shadows. The choice of gray-blue wove paper enhances the print's atmospheric depth, a nod to innovative 19th-century papermaking that supported such delicate artistry. As part of the Prints department (CG-E), *Pheasant* reflects Bracquemond's fascination with nature and Japanese influences, which permeated European art at the time. A gem of the Rosenwald Collection, it invites visitors to appreciate how prints bridged elite painting and accessible reproduction, making high art available to wider audiences.

About the Artist

Félix Bracquemond · 1833–1914

French, Paris 1833–1914 Sèvres