# Les Grandes Chaumières **Félix-Hilaire Buhot** (French, 1847–1898) 1881 etching and drypoint on antique laid paper plate: 14.1 x 27.5 cm (5 9/16 x 10 13/16 in.) sheet: 25.1 x 37.8 cm (9 7/8 x 14 7/8 in.) Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington, 2006.68.54. [The museum's record](https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.135580.html). ## About this work Thatched cottages, wooden fences and a cart beside a low wall make up this quiet village scene, etched and drypointed by Félix Buhot in 1881. Buhot, from Valognes in Normandy, was one of the most inventive printmakers of the French etching revival, known for atmospheric effects and for printing on old or unusual papers, as here on antique laid paper, to enrich the tone of his impressions. The dense, varied lines give the thatch and vegetation a soft, textured surface. _Written by Ochre Editions._ Félix-Hilaire Buhot made this in 1881. It is now at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. ### What you’re looking at The image depicts a rustic village scene featuring thatched-roof cottages, wooden fences, and a low horizon with rooftops and chimneys. The etching showcases detailed brushstrokes capturing various textures, with a monochromatic sepia color palette. A stone or wooden wall leads into the scene, alongside grassy vegetation. The cottages create a sense of enclosure, with trees and other structures in the background. A cart is placed near the wall. _Description from the National Gallery of Art._ ### How it was made - **Drypoint.** Lines scratched straight into the plate with a needle throw up a ridge of metal, the burr, which holds ink and prints a soft, furred line. The burr wears down, so early impressions are the richest. - **Etching.** The artist draws with a needle through a waxy coating on a copper plate, and acid bites the exposed lines. The plate is then inked, wiped and printed under pressure, so the line keeps the freedom of drawing. - **Laid paper.** Handmade on a mould of close-set wires, which leave fine parallel lines you can see when the sheet is held to the light. ### [Félix-Hilaire Buhot](https://www.ochreeditions.com/artists/felix-hilaire-buhot) French, 1847–1898 Buhot was a leading figure of the French etching revival of the 1870s and 1880s. He made atmospheric views of Paris, London and Normandy, often in rain, snow or fog, combining etching with drypoint, aquatint and other techniques to suggest weather and light. He is known for his “symphonic margins”, small sketches around the main image that comment on it, and he experimented with papers and inks for each impression. _Written by Ochre Editions._ ## Facts - Type: Print - Real size: about 5½ × 11 in (14 × 28 cm). The 8 × 10 in print is close to life size. - Century: 19th century - Subjects: Landscape, Tree, Fence, Cart, Building - Colour: brown - Rights: public domain (CC0 1.0); free to use for any purpose. ## Get it - Free download, full resolution: https://img.ochreeditions.com/m/1661.jpg?dl=1 - Image: https://img.ochreeditions.com/a/1661/1920.jpg - Giclée reproduction on Hahnemühle Photo Rag: 8 × 10 in $28; 11 × 14 in $38; 12 × 16 in $42; 16 × 20 in $56; 18 × 24 in $68; 20 × 30 in $86 - Framed reproduction: 8 × 10 in $78; 11 × 14 in $98; 12 × 16 in $108; 16 × 20 in $138; 18 × 24 in $164; 20 × 30 in $208 - Canvas reproduction: 8 × 10 in $58; 11 × 14 in $72; 12 × 16 in $79; 16 × 20 in $98; 18 × 24 in $118 - Print-ready file: 8 × 10 in $2; 11 × 14 in $2; 12 × 16 in $3; 16 × 20 in $3; 18 × 24 in $3; 20 × 30 in $5 Sizes stop where the museum's file would print below 150 pixels per inch. Everything sold is a reproduction, made to order. [Order a print](https://www.ochreeditions.com/art/les-grandes-chaumieres-nga-135580).