L'Ermite Sous Les Arbres (The Hermit Under The Trees) 1850

"L'Ermite Sous Les Arbres" (The Hermit Under The Trees) is an etching by French artist Rodolphe Bresdin, dated 1850. This artwork, currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, showcases Bresdin's distinctive style, characterized by intricate detail and a dreamlike atmosphere. The etching depicts a solitary figure, a hermit, nestled within a dense forest. Bresdin's masterful use of line and shading creates a sense of depth and mystery, transporting viewers into a world of solitary contemplation. The artwork's small size (4 1/8 × 1 9/16 in.) intensifies the intimacy of the scene, highlighting the quiet solitude of the hermit.