The Warning (L'avertissement)
1900
Medium
etching on Van Gelder Zonen wove paper
Dimensions
plate: 14 x 10.8 cm (5 1/2 x 4 1/4 in.) sheet: 45 x 31.7 cm (17 11/16 x 12 1/2 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Bell, in Honor of the 50th Anniversary of the National Gallery of Art
Accession Number
1990.95.24
Art Historical Context
Albert Besnard's *The Warning (L'avertissement)* created in 1900, exemplifies the French artist's mastery of etching during the Belle Époque. A leading figure in late 19th- and early 20th-century French art, Besnard blended Symbolist influences with a vibrant, expressive style, often exploring dramatic human emotions and allegorical themes in his prints. This intimate plate measures just 14 x 10.8 cm, yet its scale invites close contemplation, characteristic of the period's fascination with technical precision in printmaking. Etching on Van Gelder Zonen wove paper—a premium Dutch handmade she...
About the Artist
Albert Besnard
Paul-Albert Besnard, known as Albert Besnard, was born on June 2, 1849, in Paris to an artistic family: his father, Louis Adolphe Ferdinand Besnard, was a history painter and pupil of Ingres, while his mother, Marie Louise Pauline Vaillant, was a noted miniaturist trained under Lizinska de Mirbel. Precociously talented, he began his training under Jean-François Brémond before entering the École de...