Who painted L'Orage (The Storm)?

L'Orage (The Storm) was painted by Félix-Hilaire Buhot in 1879.

Where can I see L'Orage (The Storm)?

L'Orage (The Storm) is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is L'Orage (The Storm)?

L'Orage (The Storm) is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

L'Orage (The Storm)

Félix-Hilaire Buhot , 1879

L'Orage (The Storm) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Félix-Hilaire Buhot. It dates from 1879 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Félix‑Hilaire Buhot’s print L’Orage, executed in 1879, presents a turbulent rural scene rendered in drypoint and roulette, with selective etching and possible salt‑lift techniques on Japanese paper. The composition centers on a dark, roiling cloud dominating a landscape of rolling hills, while a small group of figures and a few cattle occupy the foreground, their forms rendered with faint, gestural lines.

Subject & Meaning

The work captures a moment of impending weather, emphasizing the power of nature over the pastoral setting. The looming storm cloud and the wind‑tossed atmosphere suggest a fleeting, perhaps ominous, interruption to everyday rural life, inviting contemplation of humanity’s vulnerability within the natural world.

Technique & Style

Buhot combines drypoint’s crisp, burr‑laden lines with roulette‑produced textures, creating a contrast between sharply defined outlines and softer, smudged areas. Isolated etching and a possible salt‑lift process introduce tonal variation, while the Japanese paper’s rough surface enhances the sense of movement and unfinished immediacy in the sky and terrain.

History & Provenance

Printed in the late nineteenth century, L’Orage reflects Buhot’s interest in experimental printmaking methods that were gaining popularity among French artists. The piece has been documented in several collections of 19th‑century prints, though specific ownership records prior to its inclusion in museum holdings remain limited.

Context

Created during a period when French printmakers were exploring new textures and atmospheric effects, the work aligns with contemporary interests in naturalism and the depiction of fleeting weather conditions. Its use of Japanese paper also mirrors the broader Japonisme trend influencing European artists of the era.