Breakfast in a Glade

"Breakfast in a Glade," created by Jean Baptiste Camille Corot, is an exceptional example of the unique print medium known as cliché-verre. Although Corot, a prominent figure in 19th-century French art, died in 1875, this specific impression was executed in 1921, likely representing a late edition pulled from the original glass plate. Corot was deeply involved in the experimental development of cliché-verre, a hybrid process combining drawing and photography.

The medium requires the artist to draw or etch directly onto a blackened glass plate, which is then placed on sensitized paper and exposed to light, resulting in a soft, continuous tonal quality unlike that found in traditional etchings or lithographs. The scene depicts a pastoral gathering, likely a picnic, nestled within a sun-dappled glade. This romantic sensibility aligns with Corot’s influential contributions to landscape painting and the Barbizon School, emphasizing a direct, sympathetic observation of nature typical of the era in France.

As one of the most dedicated practitioners of cliché-verre, Corot utilized the process to rapidly capture the atmospheric nuances often seen in his oil paintings. The medium allowed him to explore the interplay of light and shadow with a fluidity that suited his aesthetic goals. The widespread appeal and artistic significance of Corot's delicate prints ensure their status as recognized images, often available today through public domain collections, providing accessibility to these key historical prints. This important impression of Breakfast in a Glade is housed within the comprehensive collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.