Artwork
La Lecture (The Reading)
La Lecture (The Reading) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Jules de Goncourt. It dates from 1864 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1864, La Lecture is an etching on chine collé by Jules de Goncourt. The print presents an intimate interior scene in which two women sit side by side, absorbed in a shared act of reading. Rendered entirely in a palette of grays, the composition balances light and shadow to convey a quiet, contemplative atmosphere.
Subject & Meaning
The left figure, turned away from the viewer, wears a white shirt with a dark collar, while the woman on the right leans forward in a long, flowing dress, her gaze fixed on the open book. The juxtaposition of their postures suggests a dialogue between private reflection and communal engagement, emphasizing the intellectual leisure of women in a domestic setting.
Technique & Style
De Goncourt employed etching on a thin paper support (chine collé), allowing fine line work and subtle tonal variations. The artist’s use of cross‑hatching creates depth in the fabrics and background, while the limited grayscale range heightens the sense of intimacy and focus on the act of reading.
History & Provenance
The work dates from the mid‑nineteenth century, a period when French printmakers were exploring domestic genre scenes. Though specific ownership records are scarce, the print is catalogued among de Goncourt’s oeuvre and appears in collections that document his contributions to the etching revival of the 1860s.
Artist & collection
