Misery (La Misère)

c. 1886

Albert Besnard

Associated Names
Albert Besnard

Artist, French, 1849 - 1934

The image shows a person lying in bed, partially covered by a sheet. The person is on their side, head resting on a pillow, with eyes open. Their facial features are softly sketched, and their hair is short and slightly tousled. No specific clothing is visible due to the sheet. The room is dimly lit, with a shelf holding bottles in the background, and a shadowy stool or chair near the bed. The scene is rendered in a monochrome style with intricate hatching.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching, aquatint, drypoint, and printed tone on laid Van Gelder paper

  • Credit Line

    Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Bell

  • Dimensions

    plate: 31.9 x 24.7 cm (12 9/16 x 9 3/4 in.)
    sheet: 51.5 x 32.2 cm (20 1/4 x 12 11/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1996.136.4

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Delteil, no. 55, State iii/iii

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Bell, Cambridge, MA; gift to NGA, 1996.

Associated Names

Bibliography

1906

  • Delteil, Loys. Le peintre-graveur illustre. 31 vols. Paris: Published by the author, 1906-1926. Reprint. New York: Collectors Editions, Da Capo Press, 1969. Vol. 30 (Albert Besnard) is by Louis Godefroy.

Inscriptions

lower right in graphite: ABesnard; lower left in graphite: Tiré à 100; by later hand, lower center in graphite: D55

Markings

None.

Watermarks

"VAN GELDER ZONEN"

Wikidata ID

Q75403750

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