The Shepherd and the Shepherdess

1874

Charles François Daubigny

(French, 1817–1878)

France, 19th century

etching

Support: Parchment

Sheet: 32.8 x 24.8 cm (12 15/16 x 9 3/4 in.); Platemark: 28.9 x 21.5 cm (11 3/8 x 8 7/16 in.)

Mr. and Mrs. Charles G. Prasse Collection 1956.655

Catalogue raisonné: Delteil 122

State: iii/viii

Location: not on view

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Description

Although etching had fallen into disfavor in France, Daubigny began to produce original etchings in the 1840s. The revival of this technique began to accelerate, and in 1862 the Société des Aquafortistes (Society of Etchers) was organized by Alfred Cadart, who was instrumental in publishing many albums of prints. In addition, periodicals such as L'Artiste (The Artist) included original etchings, which also helped to generate interest in the medium. The countryside around Barbizon (a village about 30 miles southeast of Paris) provided a refuge from the urbanization and industrialization of modern life and offered landscape etchers a vast array of scenery—from wild forest to rocky gorges. Daubigny, who wanted to retain the immediacy of the direct observation of nature, used a flat-bottomed boat as a floating studio on the rivers of France in order to capture the momentary effects of light and atmosphere.