Artwork

H Beard Print Collection

H Beard Print Collection, by G. Fontallard, 1838
H Beard Print Collection, by G. Fontallard, 1838

H Beard Print Collection is a print by the Romanticist artist G. Fontallard. It dates from 1838 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The work is a colour print bearing the title “Aujourd’ Hui, Bulletin des Modes Ridicules.

About this work

Overview

The work is a colour print bearing the title “Aujourd’ Hui, Bulletin des Modes Ridicules.” It belongs to the H Beard Print Collection and is catalogued simply as a print. The piece presents its subject in a single sheet format, typical of printed works intended for distribution or exhibition.

Subject & Meaning

The title suggests a commentary on contemporary fashions, framing them as absurd or exaggerated. By invoking a “bulletin,” the artist positions the image as a report or critique, likely employing humor or satire to reflect on the fleeting nature of style trends and their societal impact.

Technique & Style

Executed as a colour print, the artwork utilizes multiple inks to achieve its visual effect, a process that allows for precise reproduction of lines and tones. The approach aligns with traditional printmaking practices, where the artist prepares a matrix—such as a woodblock or lithographic stone—and transfers the image onto paper through successive colour layers.

Artist & collection

Artist

G. Fontallard

G. Fontallard made hand-colored prints of animals in early 19th-century London. One of their prints, *H Beard Print Collection* (December 1838), shows a cow standing in a stable beside a hay trough. They printed in…