Drie kaartende mannen

About this artwork

collector's mark: Lugt 2228

Art Historical Context

**Drie kaartende mannenThree Card-Playing Men Created in 1867 by Spanish artist Mariano Fortuny y Carbó (8–1874), this intimate etching captures a quintessential 19th-century genre scene: three men absorbed in a card game. a modest 110mm by 169mm, the work invites close viewing, revealing Fortuny's extraordinary technical prowess. As a master printmaker, Fortuny elevated etching—a process where acid etches fine lines into a metal plate capture texture, light, and human expression with jewel-like precision. His style blended Spanish Realism with meticulous detail, influenced by his travels and time in artistic hubs like Paris and Rome. The Dutch title hints at the artwork's appeal across Europe, where such everyday vignettes symbolized leisure and social bonds amid the era's rapid modernization. Bearing the prestigious collector's mark Lugt 2228, it underscores the print's value in connoisseur circles. Fortuny's brief career produced highly sought-after etchings like this, bridging intimate observation and virtuoso craft, making them enduring treasures for art lovers today.

About the Artist

Mariano José Maria Bernardo Fortuny y Carbó · 1838–1874

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