Berenice

Art Historical Context

Visitors to the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints and Drawings department will delight in *Berenice* (1861), a masterful etching by French-born artist Alphonse Leg. Created when Legros was just 24, this work captures his early prowess in printmaking during a pivotal era in 19th-century French art. Measuring 27.3 × 37.6 cm on the, it exemplifies the intimate scale of etchings, which allowed artists to explore intricate details and textures with remarkable precision. Legros, later became a prominent figure in Britain and associated with Realism—influenced by masters like Courbet—excelled in etching as a medium that bridged painting and print. Etching involves coating a metal plate with acid-resistant ground, scratching lines through it, and immersing in acid to "bite" the grooves, creating rich tonal variations. Printed on luxurious ivory laid paper, *Berenice* showcases the paper's subtle texture, enhancing the image's luminosity and depth, a technique prized by collectors for its velvety quality. This piece highlights etching's role in democratizing art: affordable yet sophisticated, prints like this circulated widely, introducing Legros' realistic style to broader audiences. A gem of technical innovation and artistic ambition, *Berenice* invites you to appreciate the enduring allure of 19th-century print mastery.

About the Artist

Alphonse Legros · 1837–1911

Alphonse Legros (1837–1911) was born in Dijon, France, and trained in Paris at the drawing school of Horace Lecoq de Boisbaudran, whose unconventional teaching method — which emphasised memory drawing and acute observation over academic convention — would leave a lasting mark on Legros's practice. At Lecoq's school he formed friendships with Jules Dalou and Auguste Rodin that endured throughout hi...