Artwork
The Departure
The Departure is an ink print by the Impressionist artist James Jacques Joseph Tissot. It dates from 1882 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1882, The Departure is an etching on laid paper by French artist James Jacques Joseph Tissot. The work presents a quiet interior scene populated by four figures, rendered in a limited tonal range that emphasizes the subdued atmosphere of the room.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a man standing near a tall window, his back turned toward the incoming light, while three others are seated at a table. On the table rest cups, a vase of flowers, and a small dog lies beneath, suggesting a domestic setting marked by a moment of pause or farewell.
Technique & Style
Tissot employs precise, incisive lines to delineate the textures of clothing, the grain of the wooden table, and the heavy drapery. The etching technique allows for subtle gradations of shade, creating a grainy, atmospheric quality as the window light cuts across the scene and casts elongated shadows.
History & Provenance
The print was produced in the early 1880s, a period when Tissot was actively exploring printmaking alongside his more widely known paintings. Details of its original exhibition or subsequent ownership are not extensively documented, but it remains part of the artist’s printed oeuvre from that decade.
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