Artwork
Ex-Libris pour "L'Ensorcelée" (Bookplate for "L'Ensorcelée")

Ex-Libris pour "L'Ensorcelée" (Bookplate for "L'Ensorcelée") is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Félix-Hilaire Buhot. It dates from 1884 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Ex-Libris pour 'L'Ensorcelée' is a bookplate etching created by Félix-Hilaire Buhot around 1884, combining etching, drypoint, aquatint, and roulette techniques on laid paper.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a dimly lit, cluttered room with a central, ornate bookplate bearing the inscription 'Ex-Libris pour L'Ensorcelée'. Flanking the bookplate are two figures: a scholar and a woman in flowing attire, set against a backdrop of shadows, partial architectural elements, and draped fabric.
Technique & Style
Buhot employed a mix of sharp lines (via etching and drypoint) and soft shading (through aquatint and roulette) to achieve depth, characteristic of late 19th-century printmaking. The composition's interplay of light and dark enhances the overall sense of volume and atmosphere.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1884, specific details regarding the print's ownership history and exhibition record are not provided in the available information.
Context
This work reflects the late 19th-century interest in bookplate design as an artistic expression, often commissioned for literary works. 'L'Ensorcelée' (The Enchanted One) suggests a connection to a book of possibly mystical or romantic themes.
Legacy
While specific influence or notable exhibitions of 'Ex-Libris pour L'Ensorcelée' are not detailed, it contributes to the broader appreciation of Buhot's printmaking skill and the aesthetic of his era's bookplate art.
Artist & collection






![Gillingham Pier, London [verso], by Félix-Hilaire Buhot](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/felix-hilaire-buhot--gillingham-pier-london-verso--641e03dd7de8217b-w320.webp)









![The Bishop's Tomb [center], by Canaletto](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/canaletto--the-bishop-s-tomb-center--d27fef1dd2f2d61a-w320.webp)

