Notre Dame du Folgoet (Our Lady of Folgoet)

Art Historical Context

Created between 1851 and 1875, Pierre Roche’s “Notre Dame du Folgoet” is a gypsograph print that celebrates the storied Basilica of Our Lady of Folgoët in Brittany, France. This medieval pilgrimage site, renowned for its Gothic architecture and legendary healing spring, held deep spiritual significance for 19th-century visitors. Roche’s choice of gypsograph—a relief printing technique that presses paper into a plaster matrix—gives the image a subtle, sculptural texture that echoes the stonework of the original building. As part of the National Gallery of Art’s Rosenwald Collection, the print reflects the era’s growing interest in documenting historic monuments through innovative graphic processes. The medium allowed artists to reproduce intricate details with both precision and tactile warmth, making sacred architecture more accessible to a wider audience. Today, the work invites modern viewers to connect with centuries of Breton devotion and the quiet artistry of 19th-century printmaking.