À Cusset (Allier)

About this artwork

verzamelaarsmerk, verso, gestempeld: Lugt 2228

Art Historical Context

**À Cusset (Allier, a delicate etching by French artist Maxime François Antoine Lal from 1869, captures glimpse of the charming town of Cusset in France's Allier department. Measuring just 100 mm high by 140 mm wide, this intimate print exemplifies Lalanne's mastery of etching during the 19th-century of the medium. As a prominent engraver and member of Paris's etching clubs, Lalanne specialized in landscapes and architectural views, blending Realism with a poetic sensitivity to light and texture. Etching allowed Lalanne to draw directly onto metal plates with acid-resistant lines, creating rich tonal variations and fine details that reproduced his on-site sketches faithfully. Produced amid France's Second Empire, when artists increasingly celebrated provincial scenes amid rapid urbanization, this work reflects a nostalgic gaze at rural heritage. Its small scale made it ideal for collectors' albums, fostering the era's print enthusiasm. On the verso, a stamped collector's mark (Lugt 2228) identifies provenance from Eugène Dutuit's esteemed collection, underscoring the print's historical value among connoisseurs. Visitors will appreciate how Lalanne's technique invites close inspection, revealing the enduring allure of 19th-century French provincial life.