The Small Forge
Medium
Drypoint and roulette on ivory wove paper
Dimensions
Image: 5.7 × 4.7 cm (2 1/4 × 1 7/8 in.); Plate: 8.8 × 8 cm (3 1/2 × 3 3/16 in.); Sheet: 11.4 × 9.5 cm (4 1/2 × 3 3/4 in.)
Classification
etching
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
45828
Art Historical Context
Charles Émile Jacque's *The Small Forge* (1843) captures the humble intensity of rural labor in a remarkably intimate print. A key figure in the Barbizon School, Jacque was renowned for his realistic depictions of peasant life and pastoral scenes, often infused with a keen eye for everyday drama. This work, executed in drypoint and roulette on wove paper, exemplifies mastery of printmaking during France's Romantic era, when artists sought authenticity in the countryside amid rapid industrialization. The tiny image measures just 5.7 × 4.7 cm, inviting close inspection to reveal the burr-rich l...