Provenance

Professor and Mrs. Daniel Bell

Bell, Daniel Mr. and Mrs.

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The image shows two individuals. In the foreground, a person is seated in an armchair. They have a youthful face, light-colored wavy hair, and wear historical clothing. There is a candle on a table beside them. In the background, another person stands in a doorway wearing a formal suit and holding a hat. The room is detailed with a mirror or picture on the wall, framed artworks, and heavy drapery. The lighting is provided by the candle.
Albert Besnard, Iza Sleeping (Le Sommeil d'Iza), 1885, etching and aquatint on Arches laid paper, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Bell, in Honor of the 50th Anniversary of the National Gallery of Art, 1992.59.11

Iza Sleeping (Le Sommeil d'Iza)

Albert Besnard · 1885 · etching and aquatint on Arches laid paper ·  Accession ID  1992.59.11

The image is an engraving of a woman sitting at a table. She is facing slightly to the left, with her body turned toward the table as she leans over it. The woman's head, shoulders, and part of her arms are visible. She has delicate facial features, a smooth complexion, and a calm, neutral expression. Her hair is styled close to her head. She is wearing a dress with puffed sleeves and there is a suggested decorative detail or brooch at her neckline. A tablecloth covers the table, on which sits a small lamp with a simple shade, illuminating the scene. The background is textured and dark, creating a contrast with the lighter tones of the woman and table.
Albert Besnard, By the Lamp (Sous la Lampe), c. 1926, etching on laid paper (proof impression of the first state), Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Bell, in Honor of the 50th Anniversary of the National Gallery of Art, 1991.28.17

By the Lamp (Sous la Lampe)

Albert Besnard · c. 1926 · etching on laid paper (proof impression of the first state) ·  Accession ID  1991.28.17

This is a drawing of a skeletal figure standing in a cloak in the foreground and a man riding a horse. The lines are dense and sketchy, creating a textured effect on the cloak. A man on horseback is behind the skeletal figure, looking back. The background has loosely drawn clouds. The style is reminiscent of James Ensor.
Albert Besnard, Danger Passed (Danger passe), 1900, etching on Van Gelder Zonen wove paper, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Bell, in Honor of the 50th Anniversary of the National Gallery of Art, 1990.95.5

Danger Passed (Danger passe)

Albert Besnard · 1900 · etching on Van Gelder Zonen wove paper ·  Accession ID  1990.95.5

The image features two figures in a dimly lit, enclosed space. One figure is a woman reclining on a low surface, wearing flowing clothing. Beside her is a table with a lit candle. In the background, standing by an open curtain, is a man in a suit holding a round object. The setting includes heavy drapery, a framed picture, and a mirror reflecting light.
Albert Besnard, Iza Sleeping (Le Sommeil d'Iza), 1885, etching and aquatint on laid paper, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Bell, in Honor of the 50th Anniversary of the National Gallery of Art, 1992.59.9

Iza Sleeping (Le Sommeil d'Iza)

Albert Besnard · 1885 · etching and aquatint on laid paper ·  Accession ID  1992.59.9

The image shows five individuals sitting around a table in a dimly lit room. They are shown from the waist up, positioned closely together and engaged with each other. Their faces are partially visible due to the soft lighting and shadows. They have dark, shoulder-length hair and are wearing formal, dark-colored clothing. Two shaded lamps hanging above the table cast a warm glow around them. The room appears sparse with textured or grainy walls, with minimal detail visible.
Albert Besnard, The Childhood of Pierre Clémenceau (L'Enfance de Pierre Clémenceau), 1885, etching on laid paper, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Bell, in Honor of the 50th Anniversary of the National Gallery of Art, 1992.59.8

The Childhood of Pierre Clémenceau (L'Enfance de Pierre Clémenceau)

Albert Besnard · 1885 · etching on laid paper ·  Accession ID  1992.59.8

The image depicts an artistic rendering of a person's upper body, shown from the back, and without clothing. The person is seated and turned away from the viewer, with their upper torso and head displayed. The head is slightly bent forward and to the side, with long hair that appears loosely gathered, suggesting the style of a bun or ponytail. The lines of the drawing are textured and abstracted, giving a sense of depth and contour to the figure's form. There are no visible facial features due to the angle and style of the depiction. The surrounding area is filled with dense, hatched lines, creating a dark, lightly patterned background that contrasts with the lighter figure. The setting appears to be inside, as indicated by the enclosed space and the straight, horizontal line that may suggest a piece of furniture or architectural detail. There are no other objects or jewelry present in the image.
Albert Besnard, Back of a Woman (Dos de Femme), 1889, etching and roulette on Van Gelder laid paper, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Bell, 1993.71.4

Back of a Woman (Dos de Femme)

Albert Besnard · 1889 · etching and roulette on Van Gelder laid paper ·  Accession ID  1993.71.4

The image depicts two individuals. One person is lying down on a bed, facing left, with their head resting on a pillow. The second person is upright, reclined on the same surface, with one arm supporting their upper body. Both individuals have softly delineated facial features, typical of etching. The second person's hair appears curly or tousled. The clothing is not detailed. The background shows dynamic strokes, possibly representing drapery, adding depth to the composition against the lighter shading of the bed or surface.
Albert Besnard, Going to Bed (Le coucher), 1913, etching on laid paper, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Bell, in Honor of the 50th Anniversary of the National Gallery of Art, 1990.95.30

Going to Bed (Le coucher)

Albert Besnard · 1913 · etching on laid paper ·  Accession ID  1990.95.30

This is a drawing of a skeleton walking past a darkly clothed figure leaning against a wall. The image primarily depicts a fully detailed skeleton in the foreground and a darkly clothed, indistinct figure in the background. The scene is composed using dense, crosshatching techniques that add depth and shadow to the artwork. The strokes and deliberate use of light and dark suggest an exploration of themes such as mortality and introspection.
Albert Besnard, After the Visit (Après sa visite), 1900, etching on Van Gelder Zonen wove paper, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Bell, in Honor of the 50th Anniversary of the National Gallery of Art, 1990.95.10

After the Visit (Après sa visite)

Albert Besnard · 1900 · etching on Van Gelder Zonen wove paper ·  Accession ID  1990.95.10

The etching shows two people seated closely together on grassy ground. Both individuals are depicted from the full upper body to partially visible lower bodies behind the grass. The person on the left leans towards the other, with their arm extended behind the seated person. Their features include a prominent nose, short styled hair, and they are looking downwards. This person wears a dark outfit. The person on the right sits slightly reclined with hands resting in their lap, looking upwards. They have long, flowing hair and wear a light-colored dress with short sleeves and visible detailing. There is a subtle outline of what appears to be a necklace around their neck. The background is filled with sketch-like cross-hatching to suggest the texture of the surrounding grass or foliage.
Albert Besnard, Amorous Conversation (Conversation amoreuse), 1913, etching on laid paper, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Bell, in Honor of the 50th Anniversary of the National Gallery of Art, 1990.95.27

Amorous Conversation (Conversation amoreuse)

Albert Besnard · 1913 · etching on laid paper ·  Accession ID  1990.95.27

The image depicts a human figure being held by a skeletal figure. The human is reclining and limp, with closed eyes and long hair. The surroundings are shaded with cross-hatching, creating a dark background.
Albert Besnard, Possession (La possession), 1900, etching on Van Gelder Zonen wove paper, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Bell, in Honor of the 50th Anniversary of the National Gallery of Art, 1990.95.17

Possession (La possession)

Albert Besnard · 1900 · etching on Van Gelder Zonen wove paper ·  Accession ID  1990.95.17