Souvenir of Lake Maggiore (Souvenir du Lac Majeur)

Souvenir of Lake Maggiore (Souvenir du Lac Majeur) by Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, created in 1871, exemplifies the artist’s engagement with experimental printmaking techniques during the period spanning 1851 to 1875. Classified as a print, this piece is rendered in cliché-verre, a unique hybrid process combining drawing and early photography. Corot would draw or etch directly onto a glass plate coated with collodion or an opaque varnish. This plate was then used as a negative and printed onto light-sensitive paper, producing a result that captures both the spontaneous gesture of drawing and the tonal richness associated with photographic methods.

As a central figure in French landscape art, Corot often utilized the cliché-verre medium for intimate, highly atmospheric subjects, sometimes revisiting locations he had sketched decades earlier. The title, Souvenir du Lac Majeur, suggests a memory or recollection rather than a precise topographical rendering. The soft, luminous nature of the image reflects Corot’s characteristic delicate treatment of light and shadow, essential traits that link his output to both the Barbizon school and the burgeoning movement toward Impressionism. Unlike traditional etched prints, the nuanced gray scale and subtle gradations achieved through the photographic printing process enhance the meditative and vaporous quality of the scene.

This impression is a significant example of Corot’s extensive production of prints during the late 19th century, demonstrating his technical ingenuity and willingness to explore media outside of traditional oil painting. Although the work originates from a volatile time in French history, the subject remains timeless and personal. This important piece is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, where it contributes to the understanding of photographic prints and the evolution of landscape representation in the latter half of the 19th century. As a historical French work, the image is frequently made available through public domain initiatives, ensuring wide access to Corot’s innovative approach to visual media.