DOI Heft:
No. 206 (May, 1910)
DOI Artikel:Frantz, Henri: The charcoal drawings of Henri Harpignies
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.20969#0288
Charcoal Drawings by Henri Harpignies
The charcoal drawings
OF HENRI HARPIGNIES. BY
HENRI FRANTZ.
Attention has been drawn by a recent exhibi-
tion at Messrs. Obach’s Galleries to an exceedingly
interesting, and certainly the least known, side of
M. Henri Harpignies’ varied talent. I refer to
his charcoal drawings, several of which are here
reproduced by the kind permission of Messrs.
Obach.
One may fairly say, without running any risk of
being accused of exaggeration, that this distinguished
artist is universally accorded an unrivalled reputa-
tion. No one would have the hardihood to deny
that the stalwart veteran of the school of 1830, who,
despite his ninety-one years, shows no signs of
tiredness or failing strength, is the equal, or at any
rate the worthy successor of masters like Corot,
Millet, Rousseau, or Daubigny.
So we reckon Harpignies as being among the
most celebrated of contemporary artists, and no
one who makes any attempt to keep in touch with
the affairs of the art world of to-day can afford to
ignore the pictures which the master exhibits year
by year at the Salon des Artistes Frangais. There
is something so pure, so unaffected, so healthy, in
his work, his paintings are veritable poems, in which
he sings of nature with so much truth, so much
power, that it is impossible to remain indifferent to
them—his beautiful landscapes seem, as it were, to
engrave themselves upon our hearts and to arouse
our emotions with singular and compelling power.
His water-colours also contribute in no small
measure to the high reputation of the artist,
executed as they are in accordance with the best
traditions of the art—so liquid, so lightly and
daintily drawn as they are, so pure in drawing and
so transparent in colour. It is not, therefore, in
the least surprising that in galleries and collections
these water-colours of Harpignies compare favour-
ably with and hold their own among the most
famous works of this genre.
M. Harpignies’ charcoal drawings are very much
less known and as yet have not enjoyed the same
popularity as his drawings in water-colour. The
The charcoal drawings
OF HENRI HARPIGNIES. BY
HENRI FRANTZ.
Attention has been drawn by a recent exhibi-
tion at Messrs. Obach’s Galleries to an exceedingly
interesting, and certainly the least known, side of
M. Henri Harpignies’ varied talent. I refer to
his charcoal drawings, several of which are here
reproduced by the kind permission of Messrs.
Obach.
One may fairly say, without running any risk of
being accused of exaggeration, that this distinguished
artist is universally accorded an unrivalled reputa-
tion. No one would have the hardihood to deny
that the stalwart veteran of the school of 1830, who,
despite his ninety-one years, shows no signs of
tiredness or failing strength, is the equal, or at any
rate the worthy successor of masters like Corot,
Millet, Rousseau, or Daubigny.
So we reckon Harpignies as being among the
most celebrated of contemporary artists, and no
one who makes any attempt to keep in touch with
the affairs of the art world of to-day can afford to
ignore the pictures which the master exhibits year
by year at the Salon des Artistes Frangais. There
is something so pure, so unaffected, so healthy, in
his work, his paintings are veritable poems, in which
he sings of nature with so much truth, so much
power, that it is impossible to remain indifferent to
them—his beautiful landscapes seem, as it were, to
engrave themselves upon our hearts and to arouse
our emotions with singular and compelling power.
His water-colours also contribute in no small
measure to the high reputation of the artist,
executed as they are in accordance with the best
traditions of the art—so liquid, so lightly and
daintily drawn as they are, so pure in drawing and
so transparent in colour. It is not, therefore, in
the least surprising that in galleries and collections
these water-colours of Harpignies compare favour-
ably with and hold their own among the most
famous works of this genre.
M. Harpignies’ charcoal drawings are very much
less known and as yet have not enjoyed the same
popularity as his drawings in water-colour. The