Burial of Atala 1907

"Burial of Atala" is a 1907 engraving by Timothy Cole, an American artist known for his meticulous reproductions of famous paintings. Cole’s black and white engraving captures a dramatic scene from the novel "Atala" by French author François-René de Chateaubriand, depicting a Native American woman being buried by her grieving lover, Chactas. The artwork was created using a time-intensive method called engraving, where Cole used a burin tool to meticulously carve the intricate details into a copper plate. The final image is a testament to his technical skill and ability to capture the emotional intensity of the original painting. The Minneapolis Institute of Art is fortunate to have Cole’s meticulous rendering of this iconic romantic scene in their collection.