Who painted Le Bruit de deux sabots trainant...?

Le Bruit de deux sabots trainant... was painted by Félix-Hilaire Buhot in 1878.

Where can I see Le Bruit de deux sabots trainant...?

Le Bruit de deux sabots trainant... is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Le Bruit de deux sabots trainant...?

Le Bruit de deux sabots trainant... is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Le Bruit de deux sabots trainant...

Félix-Hilaire Buhot , 1878

Le Bruit de deux sabots trainant... is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Félix-Hilaire Buhot. It dates from 1878 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Félix‑Hilaire Buhot’s print Le Bruit de deux sabots trainant… was executed in 1878.

About this work

Overview

It is an etching combined with dry‑point on laid paper, the surface possibly treated with turpentine to enhance tonal depth.

Félix‑Hilaire Buhot’s print Le Bruit de deux sabots trainant… was executed in 1878. It is an etching combined with dry‑point on laid paper, the surface possibly treated with turpentine to enhance tonal depth. The composition centers on a dimly lit urban street where a solitary figure moves beneath an umbrella, while the margins are filled with rapid, gestural sketches of additional pedestrians, animals and architectural fragments.

Subject & Meaning

The title, translating to “The sound of two dragging hooves,” suggests an auditory cue that is either muted or ominous, contrasting with the visual focus on a lone passerby. The central figure’s isolation amid a bustling, loosely rendered environment may evoke themes of anonymity in the modern city, while the peripheral sketches hint at the chaotic energy that surrounds everyday life.

Technique & Style

Buhot employed both traditional etching and the more immediate dry‑point method, allowing for deep, velvety blacks alongside delicate, burr‑rich lines. The paper’s laid texture and possible turpentine soak contribute to a softened surface that absorbs ink unevenly, reinforcing the work’s sketch‑like quality. The overall aesthetic is loose and spontaneous, resembling a visual notebook where ideas are captured in hurried, expressive strokes.

History & Provenance

Created in the late nineteenth century, the print reflects Buhot’s interest in urban scenes and experimental printmaking. While specific ownership records are limited, the work has been catalogued among Buhot’s oeuvre of etchings that document Parisian street life, and it continues to appear in scholarly references to his contribution to the development of modern print techniques.