La Place des Martyrs et La Taverne du Bagne (The Place des Martyrs and the Jailhouse Tavern)

1885

Félix-Hilaire Buhot

Associated Names
Félix-Hilaire Buhot

Artist, French, 1847 - 1898

The image shows a street scene with densely packed buildings from a slightly elevated perspective. A sign for "Taverne du Bagne" is prominently displayed on a building to the center-right. The etching technique shows fine, detailed line work depicting architecture and a lively crowd. The color palette is monochromatic with an ochre tint, giving the image an aged and atmospheric quality. People are gathered near us, some in conversation or walking, while buildings fill the background. Small sketches of figures and inscriptions are seen on the borders.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching, aquatint, lift-ground aquatint, and drypoint in blue-black on brown laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    plate: 34 x 44.7 cm (13 3/8 x 17 5/8 in.)
    sheet: 36.5 x 48 cm (14 3/8 x 18 7/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1943.3.1239

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Bourcard/Goodfriend 1979, no. 163, State i/iii

Artwork history & notes

Exhibition History

2005

  • The Prints of Félix Buhot: Impressions of City and Sea, National Gallery of Art, Washington, 2005-2006, no. 26, as The Place of the Martyrs and the Jailhouse Tavern.

Bibliography

1899

  • Bourcard, Gustave. Felix Buhot: catalogue descriptif de son oeuvre grave. Paris: H. Floury, 1899. Reprint. With additions and revisions by James Goodfriend. New York: Martin Goodfriend, 1979.

1983

  • Fisher/Baxter 1983, cf.80.

Inscriptions

lower right below plate mark in pen and black ink: Premier Etat Felix Buhot; lower right in plate: FELIX BUHOT_Nov._1885; lower right in plate (vertically): O Forçats!; across bottom in plate: Pendant qu'ils sont la-bas rivés a des labeurs / Eternels par la griffe implacable des chaines / Ayant sur eux la Chiourme au dedans des gehennes / Et crachant en jurons immondes leurs rancoeurs / O Forçats! Tout le Bien que leur misère inspire / C'est de battre la caisse avec ces désepoirs / Ici dans un boulet le Passant trouve a rire / Et la chaine en gros sous tinte sur les comptoirs

Wikidata ID

Q64955912

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