Artwork

Frédéric Mistral: Mémoires et Recits by Frédéric Mistral: bust of old man (page 145)

Auguste Brouet , 1937

Frédéric Mistral: Mémoires et Recits by Frédéric Mistral: bust of old man (page 145) is a work on paper by Auguste Brouet. It dates from 1937 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

This painting is a bust of an old man, Frédéric Mistral, on page 145 of his book Mémoires et Recits.

The artist, Auguste Brouet, created this work in 1937. I don't know much about the context or inspiration behind this piece.

To learn more about the artist's style and other works, you can look up the artist: Auguste Brouet (French, 1872–1941).

Overview

Auguste Brouet’s 1937 drawing depicts a portrait bust of the Provençal poet Frédéric Mistral, reproduced on page 145 of Mistral’s own volume, Mémoires et Récits. The work is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection and illustrates the poet’s later years through a restrained, linear rendering.

Subject & Meaning

The image presents Mistral as an elderly figure, his features softened yet clearly defined, emphasizing the poet’s longevity and cultural stature. By placing the portrait within his memoirs, the illustration reinforces the personal connection between author and visual representation, offering readers a tangible likeness of the writer.

Technique & Style

Executed in Brouet’s characteristic dry‑point and ink technique, the drawing relies on fine hatching and cross‑hatching to model volume and convey texture. The limited palette of black and gray underscores the work’s documentary tone, while the precise line work reflects Brouet’s background in illustration and printmaking.

History & Provenance

Created in 1937, the portrait was incorporated into the 1939 edition of Mémoires et Récits. It entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings through a mid‑20th‑century acquisition, though the precise donation details remain unrecorded in public sources.

Context

Brouet, a French engraver and illustrator active from the late 19th to early 20th centuries, frequently produced portraits of literary figures. This bust aligns with his broader oeuvre, which often merged literary and visual cultures, situating Mistral among other celebrated writers rendered by Brouet.