Artwork
And from the Tree, We With Her Child Unbound
And from the Tree, We With Her Child Unbound is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Ferdinand Joubert. It dates from 1846 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The composition is dominated by a central kneeling woman cradling a child, surrounded by several figures in varied postures that suggest conflict and urgency.
Ferdinand Joubert’s 1846 engraving titled And from the Tree, We With Her Child Unbound presents a densely populated scene rendered entirely in black on wove paper. The composition is dominated by a central kneeling woman cradling a child, surrounded by several figures in varied postures that suggest conflict and urgency. A modest architectural element with a fence appears in the background, framing the tumultuous action.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure, a woman holding a child, appears to be the focal point of distress, while a man behind her clutches her arm, implying protection or restraint. To the left, a raised‑armed figure and a prone body add to the sense of chaos, and an outstretched arm on the right reinforces a narrative of struggle or rescue. The overall arrangement conveys a moment of upheaval and emotional tension.
Technique & Style
Joubert employs fine cross‑hatching to model forms and suggest depth within the monochrome medium. The dense network of lines creates a textured surface that differentiates figures from the architectural backdrop. The use of wove paper provides a smooth foundation, allowing the intricate incisions to stand out sharply, while the uniform black ink emphasizes contrast and drama without reliance on tonal variation.
History & Provenance
Created in 1846, the print reflects mid‑nineteenth‑century French engraving practices. While specific ownership records are scarce, the work is attributed to Joubert, a noted engraver of the period, and has been catalogued in several collections of 19th‑century prints, indicating its circulation among connoisseurs of graphic art at the time.
Artist & collection
