Artwork
M. Pochez
M. Pochez is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Auguste Raffet. It dates from 1853 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Auguste Denis Marie Raffet, a French lithographer active in the mid-nineteenth century, produced *M.
About this work
Overview
The work is executed in lithography on chine collé, a technique combining printed ink with a delicate paper support.
Auguste Denis Marie Raffet, a French lithographer active in the mid-nineteenth century, produced *M. Pochez* in 1853. The work is executed in lithography on chine collé, a technique combining printed ink with a delicate paper support. Raffet, trained by Nicolas Toussaint Charlet, specialized in military and historical imagery, though this portrait departs from his more familiar subjects to focus on an individual figure.
Subject & Meaning
The lithograph depicts a man identified as M. Pochez, rendered in a formal, near-studied pose. Clad in a dark, high-collared coat and bow tie, he stands with feet apart, one hand holding a slim portfolio. The neatly groomed beard and mustache, along with the confident stance, suggest a figure of some professional or social standing, though the precise identity or role of the sitter remains unspecified.
Technique & Style
Raffet employed a rapid, sketch-like line to convey the subject’s likeness, emphasizing the texture of fabric and the subtleties of posture. The lithographic process allowed for fluid, expressive marks, capturing the folds of the coat and the crisp details of the sitter’s attire. This approach aligns with mid-nineteenth-century portrait conventions, where immediacy and character were often prioritized over polished finish.
History & Provenance
Created in 1853, *M. Pochez* reflects Raffet’s engagement with portraiture alongside his better-known military and historical works. The print’s early history and subsequent ownership are not extensively documented, though its survival as a lithograph on chine collé indicates its intended circulation among prints of the period. Its current status as a singular portrait within Raffet’s oeuvre adds to its distinctiveness.
Context
During the 1850s, lithography remained a favored medium for portraiture and illustration, offering artists a means to reproduce images efficiently. Raffet’s background in military scenes did not preclude occasional forays into portraiture, as seen here. The depiction of M. Pochez aligns with broader trends in mid-century France, where informal yet composed portraits served both personal and professional representation.
Artist & collection
Artist
Denis Auguste Marie Raffet (2 March 1804 – 16 February 1860) was a French illustrator and lithographer. He was a student of Nicolas Toussaint Charlet, and was a retrospective painter of the Empire.
