Artwork
Souvenir of Ostia (Souvenir d'Ostie)
Souvenir of Ostia (Souvenir d'Ostie) is a print by the Impressionist artist Jean Baptiste Camille Corot. It dates from 1855 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created in 1855, *Souvenir of Ostia* is a small, atmospheric print by French artist Jean‑Baptiste‑Camille Corot.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1855, *Souvenir of Ostia* is a small, atmospheric print by French artist Jean‑Baptiste‑Camille Corot. Executed in the hybrid medium known as cliché‑verre, the work captures a sun‑lit view of the Roman coastal town of Ostia, rendered with delicate, almost translucent lines that suggest a fleeting visual impression.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents a hazy landscape dominated by soft light, a few scattered trees, and a modest building receding into the distance. The composition functions as a visual note, recording the artist’s immediate perception of the site rather than a detailed topographical study, emphasizing mood over precise representation.
Technique & Style
Cliché‑verre combines drawing on a glass plate with photographic exposure, allowing Corot to produce a print that retains the spontaneity of a sketch while achieving the tonal depth of a photograph. The resulting marks are loose and airy, conveying a sense of lightness that aligns with Corot’s broader landscape approach, which balances classical compositional order with plein‑air observation.
History & Provenance
Corot experimented with this printmaking method during a period when he was expanding his practice beyond oil painting. The work reflects his interest in new technologies of image reproduction in the mid‑19th century, though specific details of its early ownership remain undocumented.
Artist & collection
Artist
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.
