At the Bank of the Stream in Rossillon (Ain)

Art Historical Context

**At the Bank of the Stream in Rossillon (A)** *Alfred Cadart and Adolphe Appian, 1867* Etching; first of five states. Plate: 4 3/4 × 8 9/16 in. (12 × 21.8 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, York, Gift of Theodore Witt, 1923. Nestled along the gentle banks of a stream in Rossillon, Ain—a picturesque region in eastern France—this etching captures a tranquil rural idyll. Adolphe Appian, a master of 19th-century French landscape etching and a follower of the Barbizon school, collaborated with publisher Alfred Cadart to depict women, animals, rivers, and lush trees in harmonious natural detail. Created in 1867, it reflects the era's fascination with unspoiled countryside, evoking the Realist spirit that celebrated everyday rural life amid France's rapid industrialization. As the first of five states, this proof showcases the etching process in its nascent stage: Appian's meticulous lines, bitten by acid on a copper plate, begin to define textures of foliage, rippling water, and figures with subtle depth. Cadart, a pivotal figure in the etching revival through his Société des Aquafortistes, championed such innovative prints, making fine art accessible beyond paintings. This rarity highlights the technical artistry of progressive proofs, where artists refined compositions before final publication. Housed in the Met's Drawings and Prints department, this work invites visitors to appreciate the intimacy of 19th-century printmaking—a bridge between sketch and masterpiece. (198 words)

About the Artist

Alfred Cadart|Adolphe Appian (French| ) · 1816 |1828 –1876 |1875

French, Montmorency 1816–1876|