Westminster Clock Tower

Art Historical Context

Step into the atmospheric haze of Victorian London with Félix Hilaireot's *Westminster Clock Tower* (1884), a etching housed in the Art Institute of's Prints and Drawings collection. The French printmaker, active during the late 19th-century etching, captures the iconic silhouette of the Palace of Westminster's clock tower—home to Big Ben—against a moody Thames-side sky. Buhot, influenced by Impressionism's emphasis on light and mood, transforms a British landmark into a poetic evocation of time, fog, and urban grandeur. This print showcases Buhot's technical bravura through a rare combination of intaglio methods: precise etching for lines, drypoint for velvety burrs, roulette for textured tones, aquatint for subtle gradations, and spit-bite—a daring technique using saliva to soften acid bites—for ethereal edges. Printed on luxurious ivory Japanese paper, which enhances ink absorption and richness, the 28.4 × 39.6 cm plate yields a luminous, painterly effect rare in printmaking. Created amid Anglo-French cultural exchanges, the work reflects Buhot's travels and fascination with London's industrial might, bridging national artistic traditions. Its intricate layers invite visitors to linger, appreciating how 19th-century innovation turned paper into a window on history.