Shepherd's Bath (Le Bain du berger)

Shepherd's Bath (Le Bain du berger) by Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, created in 1853, is a significant early example of experimental French printmaking. The work is executed in cliché-verre, a hybrid medium classified as a photographic print, invented shortly before its execution. This technique appealed greatly to Corot, who sought a method combining the freedom of drawing with the tonal fidelity of photography, allowing him to bypass the complex interventions required by traditional etching or engraving processes.

To produce this specific type of print, Corot drew or scratched his design onto a thin, light-sensitive layer spread over a glass plate. Once dry, the plate functioned precisely like a photographic negative, transmitting light through the clear, incised areas onto sensitized paper beneath it. This method achieved a unique, delicate quality, seamlessly blending the spontaneous nature of Corot’s pencil work with the atmospheric softness characteristic of his celebrated oil paintings.

Executed firmly within the French artistic period of 1851 to 1875, the composition features a quiet pastoral moment, typical of Corot’s abiding interest in the natural world. The subject matter, likely a shepherd, interacts subtly with the water in a tranquil landscape setting, reflecting the aesthetic sensibilities of the Barbizon school. Corot utilized cliché-verre sparingly but effectively throughout his career, positioning Shepherd's Bath as an important piece demonstrating the artist’s commitment to innovative graphic media. This seminal work is currently housed in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art. As a major contribution to the history of prints, the image is frequently studied, and high-resolution reproductions are commonly available through public domain resources, ensuring continued accessibility to Corot’s experimental phase.