Artwork
Benjamin Fillon
Benjamin Fillon is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Charles Meryon. It dates from 1862 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Benjamin Fillon is a print created by Charles Meryon in 1862. It is an etching executed in red and black on Japan laid paper.
Subject & Meaning
The print is a portrait of a man with a thick mustache and beard, depicted in a detailed and shadowy style. The subject is dressed in a high-collared coat with a loosely tied scarf, conveying a sense of character through Meryon's precise rendering.
Technique & Style
Meryon employed the etching technique, scratching into a metal plate to create the image's fine lines and shadows. The resulting print is characterized by its detailed yet rough texture, a hallmark of the etching process.
Context
Meryon was a French etcher known for his atmospheric and often melancholic depictions. Working primarily in etching due to color blindness, he is regarded as a significant figure in 19th-century French etching.
Artist & collection
Artist
Charles Meryon (sometimes Méryon, 23 November 1821 – 14 February 1868) was a French artist who worked almost entirely in etching, as he had colour blindness.
