The Distant City 1868

"The Distant City" is an etching by the French artist Rodolphe Bresdin, created in 1868. It depicts a narrow, winding valley with a distant city visible in the background. The artist's signature style of detailed, almost obsessive rendering of the landscape is evident in the intricate depiction of the foliage, rocks, and water. The mood of the piece is melancholic and introspective, with the city appearing small and insignificant against the vastness of the natural world. This work, currently in the collection of The Art Institute of Chicago, exemplifies Bresdin's mastery of etching and his unique vision of the landscape.