Cacoletière Assise (Seated Woman and Ass)

Buhot employed drypoint, incising lines directly into the paper’s surface, which yields rich, velvety strokes and deep shadows characteristic of the medium. The brown ink on the laid paper creates a warm tonal range, while the delicate hatching defines form and texture.

Created in 1875, the print belongs to the period when Buhot was exploring printmaking as a means of artistic expression. It has been catalogued among his early works, illustrating his interest in everyday subjects rendered with meticulous line work.

During the late nineteenth century, French artists often turned to genre scenes that depicted ordinary life. Buhot’s choice of a modest, cloaked figure and a working animal aligns with contemporary interests in realism and the quiet dignity of daily labor.

While not as widely reproduced as his later illustrations, Cacoletière Assise exemplifies Buhot’s skill in drypoint and contributes to the broader appreciation of printmaking’s capacity to convey nuanced, intimate narratives.