The High Valley, plate 3 from Le Fleuve

The High Valley, plate 3 from Le Fleuve is a significant print produced in 1874, created by the seminal French artist Édouard Manet. This complex work, executed on ivory laid paper, forms part of a unique literary and artistic collaboration, illustrating text written by the poet Charles Cros for the publication Le Fleuve. The technical execution of the piece relies on a sophisticated combination of intaglio processes: etching, drypoint, and aquatint, applied in black ink. This blend of techniques demonstrates Manet’s growing commitment to graphic arts, using drypoint to achieve sharp, defining lines, while the aquatint lends subtle tonal variation and mood to the composition.

Manet, who often transcended the boundaries between media, produced an extensive body of prints that provided him space for visual experimentation outside of his renowned work in painting. The original plate for this piece was skillfully printed by Auguste Delâtre and Cochet, and published in France by Librairie de l'eau-forte and Richard Lesclide. This important print reflects the intellectual ferment of 19th-century French culture, where artists and writers frequently merged their efforts to produce avant-garde illustrated books. As a key example of Manet's graphic style, the work offers crucial insight into his innovative approach to image-making during the mid-1870s. This valuable print is currently held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, providing scholars and the public access to this historic print, often available through public domain initiatives for study and reference.