Paradise and the Peri (Opening), first plate 1884

This etching by Henri Fantin-Latour, titled "Paradise and the Peri (Opening), first plate," depicts a scene from the poem "Lalla Rookh" by Thomas Moore. The work shows a peri, a celestial being from Persian mythology, reaching towards a woman kneeling in the foreground. The artist's masterful use of chiaroscuro, a technique that uses contrasts of light and dark, creates a sense of drama and depth. The delicate lines and soft shadows contribute to the ethereal quality of the scene, highlighting the romanticism of the artist's style.