Who painted Un Thé Douairières?

Un Thé Douairières was painted by Félix-Hilaire Buhot in 1874.

Where can I see Un Thé Douairières?

Un Thé Douairières is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Un Thé Douairières?

Un Thé Douairières is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Un Thé Douairières

Félix-Hilaire Buhot , 1874

Un Thé Douairières is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Félix-Hilaire Buhot. It dates from 1874 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1874, *Un Thé Douairières* is a print by French artist Félix‑Hilaire Buhot. Executed on laid paper, the work combines etching, aquatint and dry‑point, and may have been treated with turpentine to deepen its tonal range. The composition presents a quiet interior scene rendered with a blend of precise line work and atmospheric shading.

Subject & Meaning

The image depicts two women seated in a modestly illuminated room. One figure is caught in the act of pouring tea from a pot, while the other holds a cup, suggesting a moment of shared domestic ritual. A candle and a mirror on a nearby table catch and reflect light, adding a subtle play of illumination that underscores the intimacy of the scene.

Technique & Style

Buhot employs a layered approach: crisp etched lines define the figures and furnishings, while aquatint provides soft, velvety shadows that model the space.

Buhot employs a layered approach: crisp etched lines define the figures and furnishings, while aquatint provides soft, velvety shadows that model the space. Dry‑point contributes fine, ragged edges that enhance texture, especially in the swirling decorative borders that frame the composition. The overall effect balances linear clarity with tonal depth, creating a sense of three‑dimensionality within the flat surface.

History & Provenance

Signed by the artist, the print reflects Buhot’s interest in combining multiple intaglio processes during the late nineteenth century. While specific ownership records are limited, the work is documented as part of the artist’s 1874 output, a period when he explored domestic subjects through experimental printmaking techniques that would influence later French illustrators.