What movement is Les Anes de La Butte-aux-Cailles (Donkeys at La Butte-aux-Cailles)?

Les Anes de La Butte-aux-Cailles (Donkeys at La Butte-aux-Cailles) is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Les Anes de La Butte-aux-Cailles (Donkeys at La Butte-aux-Cailles)

Les Anes de La Butte-aux-Cailles (Donkeys at La Butte-aux-Cailles) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Félix-Hilaire Buhot. It dates from 1874 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Les Anes de La Butte-aux-Cailles (Donkeys at La Butte-aux-Cailles) is an etching by Félix-Hilaire Buhot, created in 1874. It is executed in black on light brown wove paper.

Subject & Meaning

The etching depicts a scene of three donkeys resting under an umbrella in a deserted street, with pedestrians and old buildings in the background. The rough, uneven ground and scattered rocks add to the scene's rustic atmosphere.

Technique & Style

Buhot employed quick, sketchy lines to capture the play of light and shadow, imbuing the scene with a sense of life. The use of etching allowed for expressive and spontaneous mark-making, characteristic of prints from this period.