To Robert Schumann 1894

Henri Fantin-Latour’s 1894 lithograph, “To Robert Schumann,” is a tribute to the renowned German composer. The artwork depicts a group of figures in a stylized landscape, representing Schumann’s musical legacy. Angels, including one crowned with a laurel wreath, surround a central figure who holds a scroll inscribed with the title of a Schumann musical work, “Paradise and the Peri.” This intricate composition reflects the complexity and beauty of Schumann's music. The black and white tones of the print enhance the melancholic atmosphere and the inscription at the bottom, "A Monsieur Daudet," suggests it was intended as a personal dedication to the French novelist Alphonse Daudet.