Artwork

Frédéric Mistral: Mémoires et Recits by Frédéric Mistral: bust of a man (page 51)

Auguste Brouet , 1937

Frédéric Mistral: Mémoires et Recits by Frédéric Mistral: bust of a man (page 51) 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

Overview

Created in 1937 by French draughtsman Auguste Brouet, this illustration appears on page 51 of Frédéric Mistral’s volume *Mémoires et Récits*. The image is a line drawing of a male bust, rendered in the artist’s characteristic pen work and now belongs to the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The figure is depicted with a prominent mustache, a hat perched on his head, and a shirt whose sleeves are rolled up, suggesting a casual or working posture. The accompanying French passage, written in a formal literary style, likely offers a biographical note or narrative description of the individual portrayed.

Technique & Style

Brouet employs fine, confident strokes to delineate facial features and clothing folds, emphasizing texture through cross‑hatching. The drawing reflects his late‑career focus on portraiture, balancing realism with a slightly stylized, expressive line that captures the sitter’s character without elaborate shading.

History & Provenance

The illustration was produced as part of the original publication of Mistral’s memoirs. After its appearance in the book, the page entered the holdings of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is catalogued as a portfolio piece within the museum’s graphic arts collection.

Context

Frédéric Mistral, a leading figure of the Provençal literary revival, often included portraits of contemporaries in his writings. Brouet’s contribution aligns with the early 20th‑century French tradition of integrating fine‑art drawings into literary volumes, enhancing the textual narrative with visual representation.