Who painted Le Curé de Cucugnan (The Vicar of Cucugnan)?

Le Curé de Cucugnan (The Vicar of Cucugnan) was painted by Félix-Hilaire Buhot in 1885.

Where can I see Le Curé de Cucugnan (The Vicar of Cucugnan)?

Le Curé de Cucugnan (The Vicar of Cucugnan) is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Le Curé de Cucugnan (The Vicar of Cucugnan)?

Le Curé de Cucugnan (The Vicar of Cucugnan) is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Le Curé de Cucugnan (The Vicar of Cucugnan)

Félix-Hilaire Buhot , 1885

Le Curé de Cucugnan (The Vicar of Cucugnan) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Félix-Hilaire Buhot. It dates from 1885 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Félix‑Hilaire Buhot’s print Le Curé de Cucugnan, executed around 1885, presents a modest interior of a rural church.

About this work

Overview

Félix‑Hilaire Buhot’s print Le Curé de Cucugnan, executed around 1885, presents a modest interior of a rural church. Inside, three figures occupy the space: a kneeling devotee at the altar, a standing individual holding a staff, and a third person leaning against a pillar. Beyond the doorway, a small crowd gathers around a grave, while additional figures move in the distant background.

Subject & Meaning

The composition juxtaposes the solemnity of worship with the communal activity surrounding a burial, suggesting a narrative of faith intertwined with everyday life in a provincial setting. The presence of the vicar, implied by the title, underscores the role of clergy as both spiritual guide within the sanctuary and participant in the rites of death outside it.

Technique & Style

Buhot employed a combination of etching, drypoint, aquatint with spirit ground, spit‑bite, and roulette on Japanese paper, creating a richly textured monochrome image. The main figures are rendered with careful line work, while the surrounding margins are filled with rapid, sketch‑like marks that evoke the spontaneity of a bustling village scene.

History & Provenance

The print was produced in the late nineteenth century, a period when French artists explored innovative printmaking methods. Although specific ownership records are scarce, the work is catalogued among Buhot’s oeuvre of socially observant prints and has appeared in several collections dedicated to French graphic art of the 1880s.