Artwork
Which One? (Lequel?)
Which One? (Lequel?) is an ink print by Paul-Albert Besnard. It dates from 1900 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Which One?
About this work
Overview
Which One? (Lequel?) is a 1900 etching by Albert Besnard, characterized by a somber, densely composed scene juxtaposing life and death.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a tense group of three figures, possibly a woman and child, alongside a serene, lantern-bearing skeleton. This contrast may symbolize the inevitability or proximity of death to life.
Technique & Style
Besnard employed deep black lines and expressive textures, achieved through etching, to create a heavy, mysterious atmosphere. The rough background, suggestive of turmoil, heightens the emotional intensity.
History & Provenance
Created in 1900, the etching is printed on Van Gelder Zonen wove paper. Specific provenance details are not provided.
Context
Emerging from the late 19th-century artistic landscape, this work reflects the period's fascination with mortality and the emotional potential of printmaking techniques like etching.
Legacy
While specific legacy details of 'Which One?' are not outlined, it contributes to Besnard's broader exploration of thematic contrasts through his print oeuvre.
Artist & collection
Artist
Paul-Albert Besnard (1849–1934) was a French artist, born in 7th arrondissement of Paris.
Importunate (Importune)
Charitable
The Orgy (L'orgie)
The Warning (L'avertissement)
Les Honnêtes femmes; Conférence, Poésies inédites d'Henry Becque; La Parisienne
The Duel (Le duel)
Discreet (Discrète)
After the Visit (Après sa visite)
On the Lookout (Aux aguets)
The Accident (L'accident)
Sleeping Scholar (Le savant endormi)
Lebia (L'Ellipsoidea)