The Accident (L'accident)

1900

Albert Besnard

Associated Names
Albert Besnard

Artist, French, 1849 - 1934

This is a drawing featuring a skeleton among a crowd. The image shows an intricate black and white etching depicting a dense gathering of figures. The skeleton is positioned at the center amidst other figures who are in various poses and attires. The background is filled with hatching and lines, and the figures are depicted with expressive, exaggerated features. The scene has an atmosphere of chaos or disorder. The style of the drawing suggests a historical or allegorical narrative, with the skeleton traditionally symbolizing death or the passage of time, creating a stark contrast with the liveliness of the surrounding crowd.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Bell, Cambridge, MA; gift to NGA, 1990.

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

below platemark, center in graphite: ABesnard; lower right in plate: AB

Markings

None.

Watermarks

"[VAN GELD]ER ZONEN"

Wikidata ID

Q74885478

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