Study for ‘Autopsy at the Hotel-Dieu’ 1876

Henri Gervex’s “Study for ‘Autopsy at the Hotel-Dieu’” from 1876 is a study for the larger painting “Autopsy at the Hotel-Dieu”. The artwork depicts a group of men in the process of performing an autopsy, their faces obscured by shadows in the dimly lit room. The scene is rendered in a realistic style that captured the attention of audiences at the time of its creation, creating controversy for the artist, as this type of subject matter was not considered appropriate for public display. This type of realism, which influenced the development of modern art, is seen in Gervex’s brushstrokes and the use of light and shadow.