Who painted Le Patre?

Le Patre was painted by Félix-Hilaire Buhot in 1873.

Where can I see Le Patre?

Le Patre is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Le Patre?

Le Patre is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Le Patre

Félix-Hilaire Buhot , 1873

Le Patre is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Félix-Hilaire Buhot. It dates from 1873 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Félix‑Hilaire Buhot’s print Le Patre, executed in 1873, is a black‑and‑white work combining etching and drypoint on wove paper. The image presents a nocturnal scene framed by an arch, through which two figures move toward a dimly lit space.

Subject & Meaning

The composition shows a stationary figure on the left clutching an object, while a second figure on the right leans on a cane and gazes downward. Behind them the arch opens onto a shadowy landscape of bare trees and a faint, distant glow, evoking a sense of quiet mystery and solitary passage.

Technique & Style

Buhot employed both etching and drypoint, allowing him to layer fine lines with richer, burr‑produced strokes for subtle tonal variation. The careful gradations of shading create depth and atmosphere, while the crisp linear quality of the drypoint adds texture to the figures and architectural elements.

History & Provenance

Created in the early 1870s, Le Patre belongs to the period when French printmakers were expanding the expressive possibilities of intaglio processes. The work remains documented in collections of 19th‑century prints, reflecting Buhot’s contribution to the development of atmospheric, narrative etchings.