Who painted Pheasant and Cattail (Faisan et roseau)?

Pheasant and Cattail (Faisan et roseau) was painted by Félix Bracquemond in 1866.

Where can I see Pheasant and Cattail (Faisan et roseau)?

Pheasant and Cattail (Faisan et roseau) is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Pheasant and Cattail (Faisan et roseau)?

Pheasant and Cattail (Faisan et roseau) is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Pheasant and Cattail (Faisan et roseau)

Félix Bracquemond , 1866

Pheasant and Cattail (Faisan et roseau) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Félix Bracquemond. It dates from 1866 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created in 1866, *Pheasant and Cattail* (Faisan et roseau) is an etching executed on gray‑blue wove paper.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1866, *Pheasant and Cattail* (Faisan et roseau) is an etching executed on gray‑blue wove paper. The French artist Félix Henri Bracquemond rendered a solitary pheasant in motion, its plumage rendered with precise linear detail, while a handful of cattail leaves lie at its feet. The work exemplifies Bracquemond’s interest in the graphic arts during the mid‑nineteenth century.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on a pheasant captured mid‑stride, its head turned slightly and tail feathers fanned, suggesting a moment of alert movement. The scattered cattail foliage grounds the bird in a natural setting, juxtaposing the animal’s vivid form against simple vegetation and inviting contemplation of the relationship between wildlife and its environment.

Technique & Style

Bracquemond employed fine, closely spaced lines to delineate the texture of feathers and the delicate edges of the cattail leaves, a hallmark of French etching practice in the 1860s. The monochrome palette emphasizes tonal variation achieved through careful manipulation of line density and cross‑hatching, producing a crisp, almost illustrative quality.

History & Provenance

The print was produced during Bracquemond’s most active period as a printmaker, a time when he was instrumental in reviving the etching medium in France. While specific ownership records are limited, the work has appeared in several nineteenth‑century print collections, reflecting its circulation among connoisseurs of the era.

Context

Bracquemond’s career spanned painting, pottery design, and printmaking, and he played a key role in introducing contemporaries such as Manet and Degas to etching. His interest in Japanese aesthetics, which later influenced French Japonisme, informed his attention to line and composition, qualities evident in the precise rendering of *Pheasant and Cattail*.