Artwork
Le Talion; La Cage; Ceux qui restent; Fortune

Le Talion; La Cage; Ceux qui restent; Fortune is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Louis Anquetin. It dates from 1898 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Le Talion; La Cage; Ceux qui restent; Fortune is a lithographic print created by Louis Anquetin in 1898. Composed of three distinct, stacked scenes, the work presents a man’s face, a caged bird, and a coin-bearing hand, each rendered in bold, flat black ink on wove paper.
Subject & Meaning
The trio of images suggests themes of retribution (le talion), confinement (la cage), and fortune, collectively implying a narrative of cause, effect, and outcome. Despite their separation, the scenes subtly interrelate, inviting interpretation of their collective meaning.
Technique & Style
Executed as a proof before letters, the lithograph features sharp, separate images with heavy, flat black lines, eschewing shading for bold, graphic clarity. This approach underscores Anquetin’s mastery of lithography’s capabilities.
History & Provenance
Created in 1898, specific details regarding the print’s provenance and exhibition history are not provided in the available information.
Context
Emerging during a period of expressive innovation in printmaking, Anquetin’s work reflects the late 19th-century interest in lithography as a medium for artistic expression, distinct from its common use in commercial printing.
Legacy
While the broader impact and reception of 'Le Talion; La Cage; Ceux qui restent; Fortune' are not detailed in the provided sources, it contributes to the understanding of Anquetin’s oeuvre and the evolution of lithographic art at the turn of the 20th century.
Artist & collection


![Dancing Nude and Advertisement for Eugène Verneau's "Estampes décoratives" [verso], by Louis Anquetin](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/louis-anquetin--dancing-nude-and-advertisement-for-eugene-verneau-s-estampes--204685aaf2d4110c-w320.webp)


![Dancing Nude and Advertisement for Eugène Verneau's "Estampes décoratives" [verso], by Louis Anquetin](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/louis-anquetin--dancing-nude-and-advertisement-for-eugene-verneau-s-estampes--bdc50cd2c4746c6c-w320.webp)












