Stilleven met sleutels en lantaarn 1856 - 1897

Henri-Charles Guérard made this etching entitled 'Still life with keys and lantern' sometime in the late 19th century. It's a rather conventional composition of domestic objects, but its meaning is far from obvious. Considered in its social context, this image tells us a good deal about French artistic culture at this time. Guérard was a printmaker who had close ties to the Impressionists, but he was also very interested in the history of art. He was particularly fascinated by the etchings of Rembrandt, and this work references the dark tonality and mysterious subject matter of the Dutch master. Such references helped to elevate printmaking to the status of high art, at a time when photography was threatening its cultural relevance. It is through understanding such historical and institutional forces that we can better appreciate the meaning of this image. Resources such as correspondence between artists or institutional records help us to comprehend their cultural influences and understand their artistic choices.