Artwork

Embers Glow

Embers Glow, by Théodore Roussel, 1894
Embers Glow, by Théodore Roussel, 1894

Embers Glow is a print by the Impressionist artist Théodore Roussel. It dates from 1894 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Embers Glow is a print by French artist Theodore Roussel, created using aquatint. The work depicts a nude woman seated in a dimly lit setting.

Subject & Meaning

The scene shows a woman sitting naked in near-darkness, her skin illuminated by the glow of a fireplace. The flickering light casts shadows on her back and the surrounding wall.

Technique & Style

Roussel employed aquatint to achieve soft, layered tones. He also mixed his own inks and used stencils to apply them to the plate, capturing the effect of firelight. The print is accompanied by a mat and frame, also designed and printed by Roussel.

Context

The use of dramatic lighting in Embers Glow is reminiscent of the artistic technique known as chiaroscuro, which emphasizes contrasts between light and dark.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Théodore Roussel

Artist

Théodore Roussel

Theodore Casimir Roussel (1847–1926) was a French-born English painter and graphic artist, best known for his landscapes and genre scenes.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.