Artwork
Paul Verlaine à Londres
Paul Verlaine à Londres is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Frédéric-Auguste Cazals. It dates from 1895 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Frédéric‑Auguste Cazals produced the lithograph Paul Verlaine à Londres in 1895. Executed in brown ink on Japan paper, the print measures a modest size and belongs to the artist’s series of urban sketches. It captures a fleeting moment on a London street, presenting ordinary figures rather than staged portraiture.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts two men walking along a sidewalk. The figure on the left, clutching a cane, wears a long coat and hat, his expression weary, suggesting the fatigue of city life. Behind him a wall poster advertises locations such as Pall Mall and Budget, anchoring the scene in a specific commercial district of late‑Victorian London.
Technique & Style
Cazals employed a lithographic process that emphasizes swift, gestural lines and a limited brown palette. The rough, almost sketch‑like quality of the drawing conveys immediacy, while the use of Japan paper provides a smooth surface that accentuates the tonal subtleties of the ink. This approach aligns with the artist’s focus on everyday realism.
History & Provenance
Created in the final decade of the 19th century, the work reflects Cazals’s interest in documenting contemporary urban environments. While specific ownership records are sparse, the lithograph has been included in collections that highlight French printmakers’ engagement with foreign cities, illustrating the cross‑cultural curiosity of the period.
Artist & collection
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Paul Verlaine à Londres