Who painted L'Ane et la Vielle?

L'Ane et la Vielle was painted by Félix-Hilaire Buhot in 1872.

Where can I see L'Ane et la Vielle?

L'Ane et la Vielle is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is L'Ane et la Vielle?

L'Ane et la Vielle is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

L'Ane et la Vielle

Félix-Hilaire Buhot , 1872

L'Ane et la Vielle is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Félix-Hilaire Buhot. It dates from 1872 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Félix‑Hilaire Buhot’s 1872 print L’Ane et la Vielle is an etching executed on laid paper.

About this work

Overview

Félix‑Hilaire Buhot’s 1872 print L’Ane et la Vielle is an etching executed on laid paper. Rendered in monochrome, the image presents a nocturnal landscape dominated by a donkey burdened with a box, a figure in period costume guiding the animal, and another crouched figure playing a violin. A river and a bridge loom in the dim background, lending the scene a somber, atmospheric quality.

Subject & Meaning

The composition juxtaposes the humble donkey with the refined act of music-making, creating a visual paradox that invites reflection on the coexistence of labor and art. The presence of an antiquated costume and the storm‑laden setting amplify a sense of nostalgia, while the violinist’s posture suggests a fleeting moment of cultural expression amid everyday toil.

Technique & Style

Buhot employed the traditional etching process, incising fine lines into a metal plate before transferring the image onto laid paper. His use of sharp, cross‑hatched strokes and graduated shading produces a dramatic contrast between light and shadow, characteristic of Romantic sensibilities that favored emotional intensity and evocative, sometimes uncanny, subject matter.

History & Provenance

Created in 1872, L’Ane et la Vielle reflects Buhot’s mature period, during which he explored narrative prints with a focus on rural and historical themes. The work has been documented in several 19th‑century print collections and remains part of museum holdings that specialize in French Romantic graphic art, though specific ownership details are limited.