Artwork

The Well at the Hill of Cailles

The Well at the Hill of Cailles, by Félix-Hilaire Buhot, 1870
The Well at the Hill of Cailles, by Félix-Hilaire Buhot, 1870

The Well at the Hill of Cailles is a print by the Impressionist artist Félix-Hilaire Buhot. It dates from 1870 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

The Well at the Hill of Cailles, circa 1870, is a print by French artist Félix Hilaire Buhot, now part of The Cleveland Museum of Art's collection.

Subject & Meaning

Depicting a serene village scene, the print centers on a well surrounded by daily activity: a donkey, gathered people, and a backdrop of a church, houses, and hills under a cloudy sky, capturing a moment of quiet community life.

Technique & Style

Buhot employed sharp lines and cross-hatching techniques to achieve a detailed yet sketchy texture, characteristic of mid-19th-century printmaking.

History & Provenance

Created around 1870, the work is currently housed at The Cleveland Museum of Art, with its provenance tracing back through the museum's acquisitions.

Context

Reflecting the artistic trends of its time, the print exemplifies the mid-19th-century focus on capturing everyday rural life through precise, detailed printmaking techniques.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Félix-Hilaire Buhot

Artist

Félix-Hilaire Buhot

Félix-Hilaire Buhot (1847–1898) was a French artist, born in Valognes.

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