Artwork

Feast of Pan (La Fete de Pan)

Feast of Pan (La Fete de Pan), by Jean Baptiste Camille Corot, 1860
Feast of Pan (La Fete de Pan), by Jean Baptiste Camille Corot, 1860

Feast of Pan (La Fete de Pan) is a print by the Impressionist artist Jean Baptiste Camille Corot. It dates from 1860 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Feast of Pan (La Fête de Pan), created by Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot in 1860, is a cliché-verre print that showcases a mythological scene. Bridging Neo-Classical and early Impressionist influences, the work reflects Corot's innovative approach to landscape.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a scene centered on the mythological god Pan, set within a natural landscape of trees and a prominent rock, likely in a forest or mountainous terrain. The subject draws on classical mythology, while the setting aligns with Corot's emphasis on landscape.

Technique & Style

Employing the cliché-verre technique, Corot combined drawing and photographic elements. The print features chiaroscuro, with strong light-dark contrasts creating depth and volume, characteristic of Corot's ability to evoke spatiality through innovative means.

History & Provenance

Created in 1860, Feast of Pan exemplifies Corot's transitional role between Neo-Classical landscape traditions and the emerging plein-air practices of Impressionism. Specific provenance details are not provided.

Context

While rooted in classical themes, the work's emphasis on natural light and outdoor setting anticipates the Impressionist movement. For deeper insight into similar artistic explorations, the broader Impressionist canon offers relevant comparisons.

Legacy

As a cliché-verre piece by Corot, Feast of Pan contributes to the technical and stylistic bridge between 19th-century landscape traditions and the advent of Impressionism, though its individual impact within Corot's oeuvre and the movement is not explicitly defined here.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Jean Baptiste Camille Corot

Artist

Jean Baptiste Camille Corot

Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot (UK: KORR-oh, US: kə-ROH, kor-OH; French: ; 16 July 1796 – 22 February 1875), or simply Camille Corot, was a French landscape and portrait painter as well as a printmaker in etching.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.