Artwork

Les Petites Chaumières (Thatched Cottages--Small Plate)

Les Petites Chaumières (Thatched Cottages--Small Plate), by Félix-Hilaire Buhot, ink, 1878
Les Petites Chaumières (Thatched Cottages--Small Plate), by Félix-Hilaire Buhot, ink, 1878

Les Petites Chaumières (Thatched Cottages--Small Plate) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Félix-Hilaire Buhot. It dates from 1878 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Les Petites Chaumières (Thatched Cottages—Small Plate) is an 1878 etching by Félix-Hilaire Buhot, depicting a serene village scene characterized by clustered thatched-roof cottages.

Subject & Meaning

The print captures a tranquil moment in rural life: smoke ascends from a single chimney, while a group of geese moves near a foreground fence, conveying a sense of everyday quietude.

Technique & Style

Buhot employed etching to achieve loose, scratchy lines, imparting a sketchy, unfinished quality. Quick, rough strokes render the geese and houses with a balance of realism and expressive immediacy.

History & Provenance

Created in 1878, the etching's provenance details are not specified here, focusing instead on its technical and thematic aspects.

Context

As an etching, it exemplifies 19th-century printmaking techniques, where acid-etched metal plates allowed for textured, expressive works like this village scene.

Legacy

While specific legacy details are not provided, 'Les Petites Chaumières' reflects Buhot's contribution to the etching revival of his time, emphasizing capturing fleeting moments of rural life.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Félix-Hilaire Buhot

Artist

Félix-Hilaire Buhot

Félix-Hilaire Buhot (1847–1898) was a French artist, born in Valognes.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.