Artwork
Unidentified Female Silhouette
Unidentified Female Silhouette is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1797 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Unidentified Female Silhouette is a print created by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin in 1797, combining mezzotint and engraving techniques on wove paper.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a woman in profile, but her identity remains unknown. The silhouette format, popular for its simplicity and affordability, presents her image in a straightforward yet enigmatic manner.
Technique & Style
The artwork showcases the artist's skill with mezzotint and engraving, achieving a smooth gradation of tones through a single impression from a copper plate. The use of rich black ink on soft wove paper enhances the depth of the shadows, created through cross-hatching.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin
Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin (French pronunciation: ; 1770–1852) was a French portrait painter and museum director.
