Marcellin Gilbert Desboutin

Marcellin Gilbert Desboutin was an artist whose active period spanned the mid-19th century, documented between 1823 and 1876. While his collected works include one painting, Desboutin’s output is overwhelmingly represented by his printmaking practice, with fourteen prints documented across major international collections.

His artistic legacy is secured by the inclusion of his works in respected institutions, including the Art Institute of Chicago, the Cleveland Museum of Art, and the Rijksmuseum. The works represented in these holdings confirm his focus on portraiture, often depicting notable contemporary figures.

Significant Marcellin Gilbert Desboutin prints documented in these museum collections include two distinct depictions of Edgar Degas: Portrait of Degas, His Hand Over his Mouth and Profile Portrait of Degas. Desboutin also created the portrait Portrait of Berthe Morisot, confirming his engagement with the circle of artists associated with modern French painting. Other notable works include the portrait Alphonse Karr and the genre scene Child with a Dog.

These historic works, now represented as museum-quality pieces in institutional catalogs, offer insight into 19th-century portraiture techniques. As many of these originals are now in the public domain, they are often available as high-quality prints for researchers and collectors.