Alexandre Bida

Alexandre Bida was active as an artist between 1823 and 1888. His documented output consists primarily of works on paper, including highly detailed drawings and prints focused largely on figural studies and portraiture.

A small but representative group of ten works by Bida, encompassing eight drawings and two prints, is preserved in major American institutions. The subject matter demonstrates an interest in Near Eastern and Mediterranean figures, as evidenced by titles such as A Turk and Young Greek Man in Conversation with a Priest. Other pieces focus on studies of the human form, including the complex double study Bearded Man in Profile (recto) / Woman Looking Up (verso) and the study Head of a Bearded Man, Looking Right. The artist often explored narrative tension, as seen in the figure study Bearded Man Looking Up / Cloaked Figure with Raised Arms.

Bida’s work is held in respected collections, confirming his place in 19th-century graphic arts. These Alexandre Bida prints and drawings are preserved by the National Gallery of Art and the Cleveland Museum of Art. Today, many of the artist's historical works are considered public domain and are available as downloadable artwork through museum catalogs, allowing for the creation of high-quality prints.