Who painted Les Grandes Chaumières?

Les Grandes Chaumières was painted by Félix-Hilaire Buhot in 1881.

Where can I see Les Grandes Chaumières?

Les Grandes Chaumières is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Les Grandes Chaumières?

Les Grandes Chaumières is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Les Grandes Chaumières

Félix-Hilaire Buhot , 1881

Les Grandes Chaumières is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Félix-Hilaire Buhot. It dates from 1881 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Les Grandes Chaumières, executed in 1881 by Félix‑Hilaire Buhot, is a black‑and‑white print that combines etching and drypoint on antique laid paper. The work presents a tranquil rural tableau, dominated by modest wooden cottages capped with thatched roofs, a central dirt track, and a solitary cart positioned on the right side of the composition.

Subject & Meaning

The scene captures a quiet village environment, with a low‑lying church tower visible beyond the cluster of dwellings. Mud‑slick ground, scattered sticks, and shallow puddles convey the everyday reality of a countryside setting, suggesting a moment of stillness and the simple rhythms of rural life.

Technique & Style

Buhot employs precise, incised lines to render the texture of wood grain, individual blades of grass, and the weathered surfaces of the houses. The drypoint work adds a velvety, burr‑rich quality to the darker areas, while the etching provides crisp definition, together creating a richly detailed, tactile impression despite the monochrome palette.

History & Provenance

Created in the late nineteenth century, Les Grandes Chaumières reflects the period’s interest in rural genre scenes and the revival of printmaking techniques. The print is catalogued as a work on antique laid paper, a material choice that enhances the historic character of the image and aligns with Buhot’s broader output of etchings and drypoints.