Artwork
The Cup of Tea (La tasse de thé)
The Cup of Tea (La tasse de thé) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Paul-Albert Besnard. It dates from 1883 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Albert Besnard’s 1883 print, titled *The Cup of Tea* (La tasse de thé), is executed as an etching and drypoint combined with a monoprint inking on wove paper. The work measures a modest size and presents a quiet interior scene rendered in muted tones, characteristic of the artist’s interest in atmospheric effects.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a dimly lit room where one figure sits at a table, pouring tea from a pot into a cup, while another figure stands nearby, holding a cup. The sparse setting and subdued lighting suggest a moment of domestic intimacy, emphasizing the ritual of tea drinking as a quiet, shared activity.
Technique & Style
Besnard employed both etching and drypoint on a metal plate, then applied a monoprint inking technique to the wove paper. The drypoint scratches produce a grainy, tactile quality, while the etching lines retain a crispness that together give the image a sketch‑like, almost spontaneous appearance, enhancing the sense of a fleeting interior moment.
History & Provenance
Created in 1883, the print belongs to the later nineteenth‑century period when French artists were exploring printmaking as a means of reaching broader audiences. It is recorded in several catalogues of Besnard’s work and has appeared in museum collections focused on French printmaking of the era.
Artist & collection
Artist
Paul-Albert Besnard (1849–1934) was a French artist, born in 7th arrondissement of Paris.
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Woman in a Cape (La femme à la pèlerine)
The Piano
Prostitution (La Prostitution)
The Unknown Woman (L'inconnue)
La Muse Accoudée
The Visitor
Profile Head of a Japanese Girl
The Cup of Tea (La tasse de thé)