Souvenir of the Fortifications of Douai
1869–70
Medium
Etching on ivory laid paper
Dimensions
Plate: 15.9 × 23.8 cm (6 5/16 × 9 3/8 in.); Sheet: 19.2 × 31.3 cm (7 9/16 × 12 3/8 in.)
Classification
etching
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
43160
Art Historical Context
Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot, a master of French landscape painting and a key figure in the Barb school, created *Souvenir of the Fort of Douai* between 1869 and 1870. This etching captures the sturdy ramparts and gates of Douai, a town in northern France,oking a sense of nostalgic reflection on its defensive past. Late in his career, Corot turned to printmaking to share his poetic visions of nature and architecture more widely, blending his signature soft lighting and atmospheric depth with precise line work. Rendered as an etching on ivory laid paper, the work showcases Corot's skillful use ...