Artwork
Charles Meryon
Charles Meryon is a print by the Impressionist artist Léopold Flameng. It dates from 1858 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
This print is a portrait of Charles Meryon, a French etcher, created by Léopold Flameng in 1858 using the photogravure technique on laid paper.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts Meryon seated in a dimly lit, cluttered room, wrapped in a heavy coat and holding a pipe, with another figure standing behind him. The scene conveys a sense of introspection and informality.
Technique & Style
The photogravure process is evident in the print's grainy texture and strong contrasts, which evoke a sketch-like quality. The use of chiaroscuro creates depth through the interplay of light and shadow.
History & Provenance
Léopold Flameng, a Brussels-born French engraver and illustrator, produced this portrait during his career in mid-to-late 19th-century France, a period marked by innovations in printmaking and photographic techniques.
Artist & collection
Artist
Léopold Flameng (22 November 1831, Brussels – 5 September 1911, Courgent) was a French engraver, illustrator and painter.
Misery (La Misère)
Interieur mit Stehlampe (Interior with Floor Lamp)
Punctual (Ponctuelle)
Témoins à l'audience (2e planche) (Evidence at the Hearing) (second plate)
Greeting Grandmother (Le Bonjour à la Grand-mère)
Greeting Grandmother (Le Bonjour à la Grand-mère)
Misery (La Misère)
The End (La Fin de Tout)
The End (La Fin de Tout)
Les Soutiens de la société
The Murder (Le Meurtre)