Souvenir of Salerno (Souvenir de Salerne)

Souvenir of Salerno (Souvenir de Salerne) by Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, created in 1871, is a key example of the artist’s engagement with the experimental cliché-verre technique. This unique process, which blends drawing and photography, involves etching or scratching an image onto a collodion-coated glass plate, which is then used as a negative to produce prints on sensitized paper. The resulting images possess the fine, atmospheric quality of a pencil sketch combined with the tonal depth possible only through photographic means, distinguishing them from traditional etchings or lithographs.

Executed during the period of 1851 to 1875, this delicate print reflects Corot’s enduring connection to the landscapes of Italy, even decades after his primary sojourns there. The title suggests a quiet, sun-drenched memory, likely illustrating the harbor or coast near the historic city of Salerno. Corot utilized the cliché-verre medium specifically for its ability to quickly capture ephemeral moments and subtle light effects, making these fragile works vital records of his process and artistic vision within 19th-century French graphic arts.

As one of approximately 66 prints Corot produced using this innovative method, the work demonstrates the artist's foundational role in bridging traditional painting with modern reproducible media. Corot’s prints are crucial for understanding his technical versatility and his lyrical approach to the natural world, often capturing the spontaneous feeling of a sketch. This significant example of French draftsmanship is held in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., and, reflecting its age and importance to art history, the work is frequently available for study through specialized public domain resources.