Artwork
The Old Peasant Girard
The Old Peasant Girard is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Jean-Jacques de Boissieu. It dates from 1772 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The Old Peasant Girard is a portrait print created by Jean-Jacques de Boissieu in 1772, utilizing etching and aquatint techniques on laid paper. The work presents a somber, black-and-white depiction of an elderly man.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, an older peasant named Girard, is portrayed with a serious expression, his aged face lined with wrinkles. His attire, a loose coat over a high-collared shirt, suggests a humble, everyday individual, aligning with the focus on common people characteristic of emerging Romantic sensibilities.
Technique & Style
De Boissieu employed shading through etching and aquatint to achieve detailed textures, emphasizing the subject's wrinkles and the fabric of his clothing. This attention to realistic detail contributes to the portrait's sense of authenticity and wear.
History & Provenance
Created in 1772, specific provenance details of The Old Peasant Girard are not provided in the available information.
Context
The piece reflects the transitional artistic period, leaning towards Romanticism's emphasis on emotion and the ordinary, while technically grounded in the precise traditions of etching and aquatint.
Legacy
The work's legacy is not explicitly outlined in the provided sources, though it contributes to the broader understanding of late 18th-century printmaking and the evolving depiction of everyday life in art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jean-Jacques de Boissieu (1736–1810) was a French artist, born in Lyon.
