Artwork
Dans les Champs de Cenon

Dans les Champs de Cenon is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Maxime Lalanne. It dates from 1856 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1856, *Dans les Champs de Cenon* is an etching by French printmaker François Antoine Maxime Lalanne. Executed on laid paper, the image presents a tranquil countryside scene that balances foreground vegetation with distant architecture, all under a light, open sky. The work belongs to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., where it is part of the museum’s print collection.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a meadow of tall grasses and scattered weeds, leading the eye toward a modest cluster of trees and a small settlement on the horizon. The gentle, almost lyrical treatment of the landscape reflects a Romantic sensibility, emphasizing the peaceful coexistence of nature and human habitation and inviting contemplation of rural simplicity.
Technique & Style
Lalanne employed traditional intaglio etching on laid paper, a surface marked by visible ribbing that enhances the tonal variation of the print. Fine lines render the foliage and clouds, while broader washes suggest atmospheric depth. The delicate handling of light and shadow contributes to a soft, immersive ambience characteristic of mid‑nineteenth‑century Romantic landscape prints.
History & Provenance
After its creation, the etching entered the collection of the National Gallery of Art, where it remains on view. Lalanne’s reputation as a leading etcher and charcoal draughtsman of his era ensured the work’s preservation within institutional holdings, reflecting the broader 19th‑century interest in collecting prints that exemplify Romantic landscape aesthetics.
Artist & collection
Artist
François Antoine Maxime Lalanne (November 27, 1827 – July 29, 1886) was a French artist known for his etchings and charcoal drawings (fusain).














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