Nude Woman by a Looking Glass (Femme Nue Auprès d'une Glace)

Art Historical Context

In the intimate etching *Nude Woman by a Looking Glass (Femme Nueuprès d'une Gl)*, created by French artist Albert Besnard in 1889, a graceful nude figure contemplates her reflection in a mirror, evoking themes of vanity, introspection, and the female form that captivated fin-de-siècle artists.nard, a prominent painter and printmaker known for his luminous, decorative style blending Symbolism with emerging Art Nouveau influences, captures a private moment with delicate linework and subtle shading. Produced during a vibrant era of Parisian artistic innovation—just after the 1889 World's Fair—this small-scale work (plate: 10.7 x 13.3 cm) reflects the period's fascination with psychological depth and sensual beauty. Etched on rare green laid paper, the print showcases Besnard's mastery of the etching technique, where acid etches intricate lines into a metal plate for rich tonal variations and velvety textures. The unconventional green tint lends an atmospheric, almost dreamlike quality, enhancing the work's moody elegance and distinguishing it from typical white papers of the time. Laid paper's textured surface, with visible chain lines, adds tactile authenticity to this 19th-century printmaking tradition. A generous gift to the National Gallery of Art from Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Bell in honor of the museum's 50th anniversary, this piece invites visitors to appreciate the artistry of printmaking as an accessible medium for exploring human vulnerability and beauty.

About the Artist

Albert Besnard · 1849–1934

Paul-Albert Besnard, known as Albert Besnard, was born on June 2, 1849, in Paris to an artistic family: his father, Louis Adolphe Ferdinand Besnard, was a history painter and pupil of Ingres, while his mother, Marie Louise Pauline Vaillant, was a noted miniaturist trained under Lizinska de Mirbel. Precociously talented, he began his training under Jean-François Brémond before entering the École de...