Horseman in the Woods, Large Plate (Le Grand Cavalier sous bois)

Horseman in the Woods, Large Plate (Le Grand Cavalier sous bois) by Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, created in 1854, is a defining example of the experimental medium known as cliché-verre. This printmaking technique, unique to the mid-19th century, combines the draughtsman’s touch with photographic principles, resulting in images that possess a characteristic softness and atmospheric depth. Corot and a select group of contemporaries embraced this process, which involved drawing or scratching directly onto a sensitized glass plate coated with an opaque varnish. The resulting plate functioned as a large-scale negative, allowing light exposure onto chemically treated paper to produce the final image.

The subject matter, a solitary horseman passing through a dense, shadowed wood, is characteristic of Corot’s lifelong dedication to interpreting the nuances of the French landscape. The piece utilizes the technical attributes of the cliché-verre to emphasize tonal gradations over sharp linearity, enhancing the sense of mystery and envelopment within the forest. Produced during the period spanning 1851 to 1875, this work reflects the broader artistic exploration happening in French culture, where artists sought innovative ways to render the natural world beyond academic tradition.

While predominantly remembered as a master painter, Corot produced a significant number of important prints and graphic works using this pioneering method. This particular piece demonstrates Corot's ability to transition his signature delicate handling of light and mood seamlessly into the realm of reproductive arts. Today, many of Corot’s seminal works, including high-quality prints like Horseman in the Woods, Large Plate, have entered the public domain, securing their role as key resources for studying 19th-century graphic experimentation. This impression resides within the esteemed collection of the National Gallery of Art.