Portrait of Charles Meryon

Art Historical Context

Behold *Portrait of Charles Mery* (1853), a etching that captures the intensity of its sitter through the delicate precision of printmaking. Created collaboratively by Félix Bracquem, Charles Meryon, and Alfred Salmon, this intimate portrait exemplifies the mid-19th-century fascination with etching as a medium for personal expression. Measuring just 11 by 8⅜ inches on the sheet, its compact scale invites close viewing, revealing the intricate lines and tonal depths achieved through acid-etched metal plates. Etching, an intaglio technique where artists draw through a waxy ground on a copper plate before immersing it in acid, allowed for rich textures and subtle shading—perfect for conveying character in portraits like this one. In 1853, amid Paris's artistic ferment, such prints bridged painting and reproduction, making elite likenesses accessible. Meryon, depicted here, was a key figure in this etching revival, and this work highlights the camaraderie among printmakers experimenting with light, shadow, and psychological depth. Today, housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department as a gift from Mrs. Bella C. Landauer in 1925, it stands as a testament to the era's innovative spirit, blending technical mastery with human portraiture.

About the Artist

Félix Bracquemond|Charles Meryon|Alfred Salmon · 1833–1914

French, Paris 1833–1914 Sèvres