Who painted Quatre Anons dans un Prè?

Quatre Anons dans un Prè was painted by Félix-Hilaire Buhot in 1872.

Where can I see Quatre Anons dans un Prè?

Quatre Anons dans un Prè is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Quatre Anons dans un Prè?

Quatre Anons dans un Prè is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Quatre Anons dans un Prè

Félix-Hilaire Buhot , 1872

Quatre Anons dans un Prè is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Félix-Hilaire Buhot. It dates from 1872 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Quatre Anons dans un Prè is an 1872 etching on laid paper by French printmaker Félix‑Hilaire Buhot. The work presents a quiet rural scene in which four donkeys occupy the foreground, each captured in a distinct pose as they graze and look about the open field.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on the four donkeys, whose relaxed postures and gentle interactions convey a sense of pastoral tranquility. By focusing on these humble animals, the image reflects an appreciation for everyday countryside life, inviting viewers to consider the simple rhythms of agricultural work and the natural world.

Technique & Style

Buhot employs strong contour lines and nuanced shading to render the donkeys’ forms, creating a tactile impression of fur and musculature. The limited background is suggested through faint hatching, which hints at a distant field while maintaining the etching’s overall flatness. The use of laid paper adds a subtle texture that complements the drawing’s tonal variations.

History & Provenance

Created in the early 1870s, the print belongs to a period when French artists were exploring rural subjects through printmaking. While specific ownership records are scarce, the work is catalogued among Buhot’s etchings that were circulated among collectors interested in genre scenes and the technical possibilities of the medium.