The Garden of Pericles; The Painter's Lane; Scrawl; The Large Woodcutter; The Tower of Henry VIII

The print The Garden of Pericles; The Painter's Lane; Scrawl; The Large Woodcutter; The Tower of Henry VIII by Jean Baptiste Camille Corot is an important example of cliché-verre, a fascinating hybrid technique developed in 19th-century France that bridges drawing and early photography. Although classified as a print, cliché-verre involves the artist scratching or drawing into an opaque light-sensitive coating applied to a glass plate. This plate is then used as a photographic negative and exposed to light, resulting in a unique, soft image.

Corot was one of the foremost masters of the cliché-verre technique, embracing its ability to combine the spontaneity of drawing with the reproducibility of printing. The work is a composite featuring five distinct sketches ranging from historical or topographical scenes, such as the implied classicism of The Garden of Pericles, to intimate figurative studies like The Large Woodcutter. These varied subjects demonstrate the range of Corot’s draftsmanship, which often translates the delicate, atmospheric qualities found in his famous oil paintings.

While Corot created the original plates between 1853 and 1870, this impression was produced in 1921, decades after his death, confirming the enduring legacy of his expressive style within French art circles. As a collection of prints, this piece offers insight into Corot’s extensive exploration of both landscape and figure studies through an innovative photographic process. This significant work is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.