Artwork
Debut from "Paradise and the Peri" (3rdplate )
Debut from "Paradise and the Peri" (3rdplate ) is an ink print by Henri Fantin-Latour. It dates from 1901 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Henri Fantin‑Latour’s lithograph *Debut*, executed in 1901, belongs to his series titled *Paradise and the Peri*.
About this work
Overview
Henri Fantin‑Latour’s lithograph *Debut*, executed in 1901, belongs to his series titled *Paradise and the Peri*. Though primarily celebrated for his flower still‑lifes and portraits of Parisian cultural figures, Fantin‑Latour also pursued printmaking, and this work exemplifies his engagement with the medium during the early twentieth century.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents a solitary woman dressed in a long, flowing gown with a high collar and loose sleeves. Her hair is gathered back and she appears caught in a forward step, suggesting a moment of transition or emergence. The dark, indistinct background isolates the figure, emphasizing her movement and the sense of a personal debut.
Technique & Style
Created by lithography, the print was drawn on a smooth limestone surface and transferred to paper, allowing for delicate, fluid lines. Fantin‑Latour renders the fabric with soft, sweeping strokes that convey a sense of weightlessness, while the blurred backdrop is achieved through subtle tonal gradations characteristic of the lithographic process.
History & Provenance
*Debut* was produced as part of the 1901 *Paradise and the Peri* series, a limited set of lithographs issued by the artist. While specific ownership records are sparse, the work has circulated among collectors of early twentieth‑century French prints and appears in several catalogue raisonnés of Fantin‑Latour’s graphic oeuvre.
Context
At the turn of the century, French artists increasingly explored print media to reach broader audiences and experiment with new visual effects. Fantin‑Latour’s foray into lithography reflects this trend, aligning his traditional painterly concerns—such as texture and atmosphere—with the reproducible qualities of the stone‑based technique.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Ignace Henri Jean Theodore Fantin-Latour (French pronunciation: ; 14 January 1836 – 25 August 1904) was a French painter and lithographer best known for his flower paintings and group portraits of Parisian artists and writers.
