Artwork
Mélancolie (Melancholy)
Mélancolie (Melancholy) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Jean Danguy. It dates from 1894 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Mélancolie, a lithographic print executed in 1894 by French artist Jean Danguy, presents a solitary female figure beside a pond at twilight. Rendered in green ink on heavy Japan paper, the composition is dominated by muted green and gray tones that convey a subdued atmosphere.
Subject & Meaning
The scene depicts a barefoot woman in a loosely draped dress, her hands placed gently over her chest as she gazes toward the water. The reflective surface mirrors nearby trees, while the fading background suggests the encroaching dusk, together evoking a sense of quiet introspection suggested by the title.
Technique & Style
Danguy employed a green lithographic ink on textured Japan paper, a choice that softens edges and creates a slightly blurred, dreamlike quality. The use of a single dominant hue and the paper’s absorbent surface enhance the work’s atmospheric depth and tonal harmony.
History & Provenance
Created in the late nineteenth century, the print forms part of Danguy’s limited output in the lithographic medium. While specific ownership records are scarce, the work is documented in catalogues of the artist’s oeuvre and remains a representative example of his exploration of mood through printmaking.
Artist & collection
