Hide-and-Seek (Cache-cache)

Hide-and-Seek (Cache-cache) by Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, created in 1858, represents a significant exploration by the artist into the experimental medium of the cliché-verre. This unique process, which blends drawing with early photographic technology, allowed Corot to create prints with a tonal and atmospheric quality highly distinct from traditional etching or engraving.

The technique involved drawing directly onto a glass plate coated with an opaque substance. After the drawing was finished, the resulting plate was used as a negative, printed by contact onto light-sensitive paper, yielding a photographic print that retained the spontaneity of a direct sketch. This method was favored by a group of French landscape artists working around Fontainebleau in the mid-19th century.

In Hide-and-Seek (Cache-cache), Corot uses the technique to capture a charming, intimate scene within a rustic setting. The subject matter features loosely defined figures, likely children, concealed among tall, feathery trees and dense foliage. The soft focus and tonal graduation achieved through the cliché-verre process perfectly translate Corot's characteristic sensitivity to light and the effects of nature. The quick, lyrical lines defining the trees and background demonstrate the immediacy of the artist's hand.

This work falls squarely within the artistic period of 1851 to 1875, during which time Corot transitioned from classical realism toward the more delicate, tonal style that would influence Impressionism. Though primarily renowned as a painter, Corot engaged deeply with printmaking, recognizing the potential of these new media. This definitive impression of the print is housed within the collection of the National Gallery of Art, offering valuable insight into Corot’s diverse printmaking practices. Such important prints, made available through museum and public domain collections, continue to facilitate the study of this seminal French artist.