Musicerende vrouwen onder een boom 1856 - 1897

Curator: This print is called "Musicerende vrouwen onder een boom," or "Music Making Women under a Tree," dating from sometime between 1856 and 1897, created by Henri-Charles Guérard. Editor: It has a dream-like quality, doesn't it? Almost like looking through a veil. The composition pulls you in – very quiet, even with the subject being musicians. Curator: Guérard employed etching here, allowing for the fine lines that give it that hazy, ethereal feel. Etching became quite popular for printmaking, as it allowed the artist a lot of control over detail. Note how he built up tone with closely placed lines. Editor: I'm imagining the scratching sound of the etching needle on the metal plate – transferring image to life… do you ever wonder if they heard the same birdsong then that we might hear now? The permanence of art contrasting with fleeting moments. Curator: That tension between permanence and ephemerality is a common theme in art of this period. Printmaking made images more widely available, fitting with the rise of consumer culture and artistic patronage in the 19th century. Consider also, the industrial context in which this artwork emerged; it could even be viewed as a romantic response against mass production. Editor: Fascinating thought. Looking at it now, I almost feel as if I am there, lying under the tree as they are. A slice of a hidden moment in the sunshine. I imagine the paper and ink probably had a scent too! Earthy, perhaps. Curator: Indeed! Thinking of the etching process helps us realize how the artwork is materially produced but the final work transports us. The cyclical relationship between creation and aesthetic experience... Editor: Well said. It’s funny how a little picture can spark so many thoughts. Thanks for helping bring it all into focus.