Who painted Le Criard (The Shrieker)?

Le Criard (The Shrieker) was painted by Félix-Hilaire Buhot in 1880.

Where can I see Le Criard (The Shrieker)?

Le Criard (The Shrieker) is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Le Criard (The Shrieker)?

Le Criard (The Shrieker) is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Le Criard (The Shrieker)

Félix-Hilaire Buhot , 1880

Le Criard (The Shrieker) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Félix-Hilaire Buhot. It dates from 1880 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

The composition is rendered on Japanese paper using a combination of etching, drypoint, aquatint, and lift techniques, producing a stark, monochrome image.

Félix‑Hilaire Buhot’s print Le Criard (The Shrieker), executed in 1880, presents a solitary figure caught in a turbulent seascape. The central man stands waist‑deep in water, arms uplifted, head thrown back as if emitting a scream, while a storm‑clouded sky flashes with lightning. The composition is rendered on Japanese paper using a combination of etching, drypoint, aquatint, and lift techniques, producing a stark, monochrome image.

Subject & Meaning

The work depicts a lone individual confronting the forces of nature, his posture suggesting both anguish and defiance amid crashing waves and gusting wind. The surrounding trees and foliage appear bent by the storm, reinforcing a sense of elemental chaos that envelops the figure, inviting contemplation of human vulnerability in the face of overwhelming natural power.

Technique & Style

Buhot employed a layered printmaking process: etched lines define the figure and foreground, drypoint adds fine, velvety edges, while aquatint—both dust‑ground and spirit‑ground—creates tonal washes that suggest the roiling water and stormy sky. Salt and possibly sugar lifts generate lighter areas, allowing the lightning to emerge with striking contrast against the dark background.

Context

Created during the late nineteenth century, Le Criard aligns with the broader Impressionist interest in capturing fleeting atmospheric conditions. Although primarily a painter’s movement, its emphasis on transient light and weather found expression in print media, where artists like Buhot explored rapid, expressive techniques to convey immediacy.

History & Provenance

The print was produced in 1880 and remains catalogued as a black‑and‑white work on Japanese paper. It is documented in several collections of French printmaking, though specific ownership histories are limited, reflecting the modest circulation typical of experimental prints of the period.