Au Jardin d'Acclimatation (In the Zoological Garden)

Art Historical Context

Félix Bracquemond's *Au Jardin d'Acclation (In the Zo Garden)*, created in the 1870s, invites viewers into the vibrant public life of Paris's Jardin d'Acclimat. Opened in 1860 within the Bois de Boulog, this innovative garden-zoo showcased exotic animals and plants acclimated to French soil, drawing fashionable crowds for leisurely strolls amid nature's wonders. Bracquemond, a leading figure in France's 19th-century revival and a proponent of Japonisme, captures the scene with a keen eye for everyday elegance and atmospheric detail. As an etching on laid paper—a traditional support prized for its texture and absorbency—this print exemplifies Bracquemond's mastery of intaglio techniques. He skillfully used acid to bite intricate lines into a copper plate, producing rich tonal variations and subtle textures that evoke the dappled light and lively bustle of the garden. Measuring about 19 × 20 cm for the image, the intimate scale encourages close contemplation, much like a personal sketchbook glimpse into Haussmann-era Paris. Housed in the National Gallery of Art through the Helena E. M. Gunnarsson Fund, this work highlights printmaking's democratic appeal, bridging fine art and popular leisure during a transformative era in French culture. A delightful window into 1870s urban escapism!

About the Artist

Félix Bracquemond · 1833–1914

French, Paris 1833–1914 Sèvres