Artwork
The Feathered Turban (Le turban à aigrette)
The Feathered Turban (Le turban à aigrette) is an ink print by Paul-Albert Besnard. It dates from 1901 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The Feathered Turban (Le turban à aigrette) is a print created by Albert Besnard in 1901, executed in etching and drypoint on wove paper. It depicts a reclining female figure with her back turned, distinguished by a prominently featured hat adorned with feathers.
Subject & Meaning
The subject's face remains obscured, with attention focused on the eponymous feathered turban, which serves as the primary visual and titular element. The composition emphasizes the figure's pose and the textures of the turban, suggesting a focus on the play of light, shadow, and materiality.
Technique & Style
Besnard employed etching and drypoint techniques to achieve a range of expressive lines and deep, textured marks. The rough, scratchy lines around the body and background contrast with the detailed rendering of feathers and skin, highlighting the artist's mastery of these printmaking methods.
History & Provenance
Created in 1901, specific details regarding the print's provenance and exhibition history are not provided in the available information.
Context
Understanding the techniques used (etching, drypoint, and potentially aquatint for tonal variations) provides insight into how Besnard achieved the detailed, textured effects seen in The Feathered Turban.
Legacy
The print's impact or influence on subsequent artistic movements or Besnard's broader oeuvre is not specified in the given context.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Paul-Albert Besnard (1849–1934) was a French artist, born in 7th arrondissement of Paris.
Femme nue vue de dos (Nude Woman Seen from the Back)
Woman at Her Toilette (La toilette)
Study of a Woman, Viewed from the Back (Étude de femme vue de dos)
Seated Nude Woman from the Back
Nude with Her Arms Raised (Le modèle nue les bras levés)
Nude with Her Arms Raised (Le modèle nue les bras levés)
Seated Nude with Her Arm Resting on Her Leg (Femme nue assise, le bras appuyé sur la jambe)
Bust
Seated Nude with a Cigarette
Modellstudie (Study of a Model)