Imitation d'anacreon: Le portrait d'iris

Executed with fine line work characteristic of 19th‑century etching, the image balances delicate hatching with broader tonal washes to achieve depth. The artist employs a limited palette of warm hues, allowing the interplay of light and shadow to model the figure and surrounding items.

The print was produced as part of a series that references the ancient poet Anacreon, though the exact date of its issuance remains undocumented. It has circulated among private collections before entering a museum holding focused on graphic arts.

During the period when the work was created, there was a renewed interest in classical themes and the romanticization of the artist’s studio. This etching reflects that cultural climate, merging classical allusion with a domestic scene of creative labor.