Souvenir of Italy (Souvenir d'Italie)

Souvenir of Italy (Souvenir d'Italie) is a compelling lithograph created by the renowned French artist Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot in 1871. This print was produced late in the artist’s career, placing it within the vital creative period spanning 1851 to 1875. While Corot is universally celebrated for his masterful handling of atmospheric oil paintings, this work showcases his equally significant contribution to printmaking, demonstrating his skill across different media.

The use of lithography, a demanding technique involving drawing on a stone or metal plate, allowed Corot to translate the subtle tonal gradations and delicate textures typical of his landscape studies into a reproducible format. The title itself suggests a retrospective moment, recalling the artist’s foundational travels and extended stays in Italy earlier in his life, which were crucial to developing his distinctive classical-romantic style. Even as a print, the work retains the characteristic softness, diffuse light, and sense of quiet contemplation that defined Corot’s mature vision.

The decision by Corot to continue experimenting with prints during the transitionary French political era of 1851 to 1875 ensured that his artistic perspective reached a broad audience beyond the traditional Salon setting. Corot’s proficiency in translating light and shadow onto the lithographic stone cemented his reputation not only as a great painter but also as a skillful graphic artist. This work is an important example of nineteenth-century French prints and is housed in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C. Given its age and established provenance, this historic artwork is often made available through museum and institutional resources within the public domain.