Artwork
Chasse Infernale
Chasse Infernale is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Louis-Candide Boulanger. It dates from 1835 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1835, *Chasse Infernale* is a lithographic print by French artist Louis‑Candide Boulanger. Known primarily as a Romantic painter and poet, Boulanger turned to printmaking for this work, which depicts a tumultuous nocturnal chase. The piece reflects the period’s fascination with dramatic, emotionally charged scenes and demonstrates the artist’s versatility across media.
Subject & Meaning
The image portrays a frenzied “wild hunt” under a storm‑filled sky, populated by half‑human figures, monstrous beasts, winged and horned creatures, all locked in a chaotic pursuit. The title, translating to “Hellish Hunt,” alludes to a mythic, endless chase through the underworld, emphasizing themes of terror, supernatural violence, and the boundless imagination characteristic of Romantic storytelling.
Technique & Style
Executed as a lithograph, Boulanger employed sharp, incisive lines and stark contrasts to convey motion and turbulence. The composition relies on dense, swirling clouds and aggressive diagonals that guide the eye across the tumult. This graphic intensity, coupled with the medium’s capacity for fine detail, amplifies the sense of urgency and otherworldly menace inherent in the scene.
History & Provenance
*Chasse Infernale* emerged during Boulanger’s productive period in the 1830s, when he was expanding his practice beyond oil painting to include prints and poetry. While the work was originally issued as a single lithographic edition, its subsequent ownership records are sparse, reflecting the limited circulation typical of many Romantic prints of the era.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Louis Candide Boulanger (1806 – 1867) was a French Romantic painter, pastellist, lithographer and a poet, known for his religious and allegorical subjects, portraits, genre scenes.
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