Une Variété dans l'Amour (A Change of Heart)

Buhot employed multiple intaglio methods to achieve varied textures: drypoint for fine, scratchy lines in the tiger’s fur, aquatint for soft tonal gradients, and roulette for the swirling wall patterns. The delicate Japanese paper enhances the print’s subtlety, allowing the candle’s glow to appear luminous against the inked darkness, while the moonlight through the window adds a cool, distant contrast.

The work emerged during Buhot’s mature period, when he increasingly focused on atmospheric urban and domestic scenes. Though not widely exhibited at the time, it entered private collections in France and later found its way into institutional holdings, valued for its technical innovation and psychological nuance. Its survival in good condition reflects careful handling over time.

In late 19th-century France, printmakers like Buhot explored intimate, moody subjects as alternatives to grand historical narratives. This piece aligns with a growing interest in psychological tension and the uncanny within domestic spaces, reflecting broader cultural fascination with the hidden layers of emotion and the natural world’s intrusion into human life.

Buhot’s use of mixed techniques in this print influenced later printmakers seeking expressive texture without color. While not widely known outside specialist circles, the work remains a quiet example of how etching could convey psychological depth through light, shadow, and tactile surface—offering a counterpoint to the more overtly dramatic imagery of his contemporaries.