Artwork
Lever de lune a Dinard (Moonrise at Dinard)

Lever de lune a Dinard (Moonrise at Dinard) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Félix-Hilaire Buhot. It dates from 1891 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Félix‑Hilaire Buhot’s print Lever de lune à Dinard, executed in 1891, depicts a nocturnal shoreline scene.
About this work
This sketch shows a quiet beach at night. The sand is smooth and empty. A few bare trees stand in the middle, their branches twisted. In the distance, a dark hill curves against a pale sky.
The artist used many lines to show light and shadow. The paper looks worn, like it’s been handled a lot. The date is signed in the corner: 1891.
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Overview
Félix‑Hilaire Buhot’s print Lever de lune à Dinard, executed in 1891, depicts a nocturnal shoreline scene. The composition presents a smooth, empty beach under a pale sky, punctuated by a few twisted, leafless trees and a dark, curving hill in the distance. The work is part of the National Gallery of Art’s collection in Washington, D.C., and is catalogued as a print rather than a painting.
Subject & Meaning
The image captures a tranquil, moonlit moment on a French coast, emphasizing solitude and the subtle interplay of light and darkness. The barren trees and the unpopulated sand convey a sense of stillness, while the faint illumination of the sky suggests the presence of a rising moon, inviting contemplation of the natural landscape’s quiet majesty.
Technique & Style
Buhot combined etching, drypoint, roulette, and aquatint processes, finishing the surface with burnishing on wove paper. The varied line work creates delicate gradations of tone, rendering the contrast between illuminated sky and shadowed ground. The paper’s worn appearance, likely from handling, adds a tactile quality that enhances the atmospheric effect of the night scene.
History & Provenance
Created in 1891, Lever de lune à Dinard entered the National Gallery of Art’s holdings, where it remains on view. The work bears the artist’s signature and date in the lower corner, confirming its authorship. Its acquisition by the museum reflects the institution’s interest in late‑19th‑century French printmaking and the oeuvre of Félix‑Hilaire Buhot.
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Artist & collection







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