Who painted What Is It? (Che c'è?)?

What Is It? (Che c'è?) was painted by Celestino Turletti in 1887.

Where can I see What Is It? (Che c'è?)?

What Is It? (Che c'è?) is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is What Is It? (Che c'è?)?

What Is It? (Che c'è?) is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

What Is It? (Che c'è?)

Celestino Turletti , 1887

What Is It? (Che c'è?) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Celestino Turletti. It dates from 1887 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created in 1887, “What Is It?

About this work

Overview

Created in 1887, “What Is It? (Che c’è?)” is an etching on chine collé by Italian printmaker Celestino Turletti. The work presents a modest rural scene that has been part of the National Gallery of Art’s collection in Washington, D.C., where it is displayed among the museum’s nineteenth‑century prints.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on a young girl in a dark dress and headscarf, standing atop a rocky rise. She is surrounded by a flock of white sheep with black faces, while a light sky above is traversed by a few birds. The image suggests a quiet moment of pastoral life, emphasizing the relationship between the child and the herd.

Technique & Style

Turletti employed etching on a chine collé support, a method that combines a thin paper backing with a heavier, smooth surface. This technique allows fine lines to convey the texture of stone and wool, creating depth and a tactile quality. The careful rendering of the hill’s crags and the sheep’s fleece reflects a realistic approach typical of late‑nineteenth‑century Italian printmaking.

History & Provenance

The print was produced in the late 1880s, a period when Turletti was active in the Italian art scene, focusing on genre subjects. It entered the National Gallery of Art’s collection through acquisition (or donation) in the twentieth century, joining a broader assemblage of European prints that illustrate the era’s technical experimentation.