Artwork

Second Vignette

Second Vignette, by Félix-Hilaire Buhot, ink, 1878
Second Vignette, by Félix-Hilaire Buhot, ink, 1878

Second Vignette is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Félix-Hilaire Buhot. It dates from 1878 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Second Vignette, an 1878 etching and drypoint with letter press on laid paper by Félix-Hilaire Buhot, depicts a dramatic, turbulent scene of a woman in flight amidst a tempestuous landscape.

Subject & Meaning

A woman is shown desperately escaping through a stormy environment, symbolized by her use of torn fabric as a makeshift ladder to descend from a high window, conveying a sense of urgency and peril.

Technique & Style

Buhot employed etching and drypoint techniques to achieve dynamic, expressive textures, evident in the swirling clouds, jagged trees, and rough ground, which capture the intensity of the storm and the woman's movement.

History & Provenance

Created in 1878, specific provenance details are not provided, highlighting the work within the context of Buhot's oeuvre from that period.

Context

Reflective of late 19th-century artistic explorations of nature's power and human vulnerability, the piece aligns with themes common in Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works, though its medium and style are more closely related to the etching revival of the time.

Legacy

While specific legacy details of 'Second Vignette' are not outlined, it contributes to the broader appreciation of Buhot's contributions to the etching revival and the emotional depth achievable through the medium.

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.