Fountain: Grotesque, Children and Basin (Une fountaine: Masque, enfants et bassin)

Art Historical Context

Alphonse Legros's *Fountain: Grotes, Children and Basin*Une fontaine: Masque, et bassin), created between 1826 and1850, is a delicate etching that captures a whimsical yet intricate scene of a fountain adorned with a grotesque mask, playful children, and a basin. As a master printmaker, Legros employed the etching technique—using acid to bite designs into a metal plate—to achieve fine lines and rich tonal contrasts, evoking the detailed realism of 19th-century European printmaking traditions. This medium was prized for its ability to produce multiple impressions, making art accessible beyond oil paintings. The artwork reflects the Romantic fascination with the grotesque and the fanciful, blending everyday architectural elements like fountains with imaginative figures. Grotesques, inspired by Renaissance decorative motifs, often symbolized the interplay of human whimsy and nature, while the children add a lively, innocent contrast. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's Department of Prints (CG-E), this piece was generously gifted by George Matthew Adams in memory of his mother, Lydia Havens Adams, highlighting its enduring appeal to collectors. Visitors will appreciate how Legros's etching invites close inspection, revealing the artist's skill in texture and narrative—perfect for pondering the charm of 19th-century French genre scenes in a quiet gallery moment.

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...