Who painted Frontispiece for "Zigzags d'un Curieux, d'Octave Uzanne"?

Frontispiece for "Zigzags d'un Curieux, d'Octave Uzanne" was painted by Félix-Hilaire Buhot in 1888.

Where can I see Frontispiece for "Zigzags d'un Curieux, d'Octave Uzanne"?

Frontispiece for "Zigzags d'un Curieux, d'Octave Uzanne" is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Frontispiece for "Zigzags d'un Curieux, d'Octave Uzanne"?

Frontispiece for "Zigzags d'un Curieux, d'Octave Uzanne" is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Frontispiece for "Zigzags d'un Curieux, d'Octave Uzanne"

Félix-Hilaire Buhot , 1888

Frontispiece for "Zigzags d'un Curieux, d'Octave Uzanne" is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Félix-Hilaire Buhot. It dates from 1888 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Félix‑Hilaire Buhot’s frontispiece for Octave Uzanne’s 1888 publication *Zigzags d’un Curieux* is a single‑sheet etching printed in black on a beige sheet of Japan paper. The image functions as a decorative title page, framing a miniature scene that combines a domestic interior with a surrounding border of whimsical figures and motifs.

Subject & Meaning

At the center of the composition a woman sits at a desk, absorbed in reading, while a cat watches attentively from the foreground. The surrounding swirl of tiny people, animals and abstract shapes creates a sense of curiosity and movement, echoing the book’s title, which suggests the wandering thoughts of an inquisitive mind.

Technique & Style

Buhot employed traditional intaglio methods, incising fine lines and broader washes into a metal plate before printing. The contrast between sharp, precise outlines and softer, stippled shading gives depth to the interior scene, while the decorative border showcases his facility with intricate, repetitive motifs rendered in a delicate, almost calligraphic hand.

History & Provenance

The etching was produced specifically for the first edition of Uzanne’s *Zigzags d’un Curieux*, a late‑19th‑century literary work that blended essay and anecdote. Original copies of the book, bearing this frontispiece, are held in several European library collections, confirming the print’s role as an integral part of the publication rather than a standalone artwork.

Context

Created during the Belle Époque, the piece reflects the period’s fascination with decorative arts and the integration of illustration and text. Buhot, known for his contributions to the revival of wood‑cut and etching techniques, often collaborated with writers, providing visual commentary that complemented the literary content.