Artwork
Les ours
Les 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
Les ours is an 1851 etching by Swiss-French artist Karl Bodmer, characterized by its detailed depiction of two bears in a wooded setting.
Subject & Meaning
The etching portrays two bears at different heights on a tree, surrounded by dense foliage. The scene focuses on wildlife and natural environment, typical of Bodmer's thematic interests.
Technique & Style
Bodmer employed etching to achieve meticulous line work, evident in the textured fur of the bears and the rough tree bark. The style aligns with 19th-century conventions for detailed animal illustrations.
History & Provenance
Created in 1851, Les ours falls within the period after 1843 when Bodmer signed his work as 'K Bodmer'. Specific provenance details are not provided.
Context
Les ours reflects Bodmer's broader artistic practice of engraving landscapes and wildlife, situating it within his body of work emphasizing natural subjects.
Legacy
While the broader impact of Les ours is not specified, it exemplifies Bodmer's contribution to 19th-century printmaking and wildlife illustration.
Artist & collection
Artist
Johann Carl Bodmer (11 February 1809 – 30 October 1893) was a Swiss-French printmaker, etcher, lithographer, zinc engraver, draughtsman, painter, illustrator, and hunter.
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