The Pastoral Play
1888
Medium
etching in green on laid paper
Dimensions
plate (cut to plate mark): 15.7 × 21.5 cm (6 3/16 × 8 7/16 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1943.3.7597
Art Historical Context
**The Pastoral Play** (1888) by Théodore Roussel is captivating etching in green ink on laid paper, measuring 15.7 × 21.5 cm. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's Rosen Collection, this print exemplifies late 19th-century mastery of intaglio techniques, where acid bites into a metal plate to create fine, expressive lines. The choice of green monochrome lends a fresh, naturalistic tone, evoking the lush hues of countryside scenes, while laid paper—with its visible chain lines—provides a textured, traditional surface ideal for such delicate work. The title suggests a playful, idyllic pastora...