Who painted Deux Ours?

Deux Ours was painted by Karl Bodmer in 1851.

Where can I see Deux Ours?

Deux Ours is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Deux Ours?

Deux Ours is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Deux Ours

Karl Bodmer , 1851

Deux Ours is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Karl Bodmer. It dates from 1851 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1851, *Deux Ours* is an etching by Karl Bodmer, a Swiss‑French artist noted for his precise printmaking. The work depicts two bears in a forested setting, one scaling a tree while the other watches from below. The composition includes surrounding foliage, a sloping hillside, and a faint horizon that suggests a river or distant landscape.

Subject & Meaning

The image presents a quiet encounter between two bears, emphasizing the animal’s natural behavior and the intimacy of the woodland environment. The climbing bear’s upward reach contrasts with the stationary companion, inviting contemplation of animal hierarchy, curiosity, and the broader Romantic fascination with untamed nature.

Technique & Style

Bodmer rendered the scene with fine, closely spaced lines that convey the texture of fur and the delicate structure of leaves. The etching’s tonal variations arise from meticulous cross‑hatching, a hallmark of 19th‑century printmaking. Its Romantic sensibility is evident in the dramatic yet serene portrayal of wilderness.

History & Provenance

Karl Bodmer, active in the mid‑1800s, earned recognition for detailed river landscapes before expanding his repertoire to include wildlife. *Deux Ours* was produced during his mature period, when he applied his expertise in etching alongside watercolor and engraving. The print has circulated among collectors of 19th‑century European prints.

Context

The work aligns with the Romantic era’s preoccupation with the sublime in nature, reflecting contemporary scientific interest in zoology and natural history. Bodmer’s precise observation and his choice of the bear—a symbol of raw power—mirror the period’s desire to document and idealize the natural world through art.

Artist & collection

Artist

Karl Bodmer

Johann Carl Bodmer (11 February 1809 – 30 October 1893) was a Swiss-French printmaker, etcher, lithographer, zinc engraver, draughtsman, painter, illustrator, and hunter.