Feast of Pan (La Fete de Pan)

Feast of Pan (La Fete de Pan), created by Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot in 1860, is a remarkable example of the artist’s dedication to technical experimentation, executed in the specialized medium of cliché-verre. Developed in the mid-19th century, this innovative process functions as a hybrid of drawing and photography, granting the French artist a spontaneous means to create reproducible prints. Corot would coat a glass plate with an opaque light-sensitive layer and then draw directly into the layer, often using a stylus or etching needle, removing the ground to allow light to pass through. This resulting plate was then used as a photographic negative, printed onto light-sensitive paper.

This particular work belongs to Corot’s creative period of 1851 to 1875, where he frequently returned to mythological and classical themes infused with the atmospheric qualities of landscape painting. The subject matter depicts a dynamic scene of pastoral revelry, likely centered around the figure of Pan, the Greek god of the wild and music, whose presence anchors the festivities among dancing figures and woodland settings. The composition utilizes the sharp contrasts inherent in the cliché-verre process, creating deeply saturated black areas juxtaposed with stark white highlights. This dramatic lighting enhances the mystery and atmosphere of the mythological gathering, allowing the figures to emerge subtly from the dense foliage.

As one of Corot’s most recognized pieces utilizing this print method, Feast of Pan (La Fete de Pan) provides significant insight into the artist’s technical dexterity outside of his celebrated oil canvases. The print is part of the distinguished collection of prints and drawings held by the National Gallery of Art. Due to its historical significance and institutional holding, high-quality prints of this seminal artwork are widely available today, often found accessible through public domain collections for study and appreciation.