Artwork
In the Crowd (Dans la foule)
In the Crowd (Dans la foule) is an ink print by Paul-Albert Besnard. It dates from 1900 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Albert Besnard’s 1900 etching *In the Crowd* (French: *Dans la foule*) presents a solitary, fully clothed skeleton navigating a tightly packed urban street. Rendered in stark black‑and‑gray tones against a deep brown backdrop, the work captures a moment of eerie juxtaposition between the living and the dead.
Subject & Meaning
At the composition’s centre, the skeletal figure—clad in a long coat, top hat, and carrying a cane—moves through a throng of dark‑dressed pedestrians. The contrast between the animated crowd and the lifeless, yet formally dressed, skeleton invites contemplation of mortality amid everyday life.
Technique & Style
The image was produced by etching on Van Gelder Zonen wove paper, a method that allows fine line work and subtle tonal variation. Besnard’s handling of the medium creates textured surfaces and depth, emphasizing the intricate detailing of clothing folds and the crowded atmosphere.
History & Provenance
Created in 1900, the print reflects Besnard’s engagement with Symbolist themes prevalent at the turn of the century. While specific ownership records are limited, the work has been cited in catalogues of early twentieth‑century French prints.
Context
The piece emerges from a period when artists frequently explored allegorical representations of death within modern settings, aligning with contemporary concerns about urban anonymity and the fleeting nature of human existence.
Artist & collection
Artist
Paul-Albert Besnard (1849–1934) was a French artist, born in 7th arrondissement of Paris.
Les Honnêtes femmes; Conférence, Poésies inédites d'Henry Becque; La Parisienne
The Orgy (L'orgie)
The Duel (Le duel)
The Accident (L'accident)
After the Visit (Après sa visite)
Ouvriers Sortant de L'Usine
Vertigo (Le vertige)
On the Lookout (Aux aguets)
Lourdes, transport des paralysées (Lourdes, Transport of the Paralyzed)
Danger Passed (Danger passe)
Quand sonnent quatre heures
In the Street (Dans la Rue)