The Young Shepherd, first plate

The Young Shepherd, first plate by Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot French, 1796-1875, is a compelling early example of experimental printmaking, executed in 1855. This sensitive work utilizes the relatively novel medium of cliché-verre on ivory photographic paper. The cliché-verre process, which literally translates to "glass negative," allowed the artist to bridge traditional drawing and the emerging technology of photography. Corot would scratch or draw directly onto a prepared glass plate coated with collodion or opaque varnish; this plate was then exposed to sunlight over light-sensitive paper, effectively turning the drawn image into a photographic print.

This technique allowed Corot to maintain the immediacy of sketching while producing multiple prints with soft, atmospheric tonalities. The work depicts a solitary figure, the young shepherd, nestled within a tranquil landscape, reflective of Corot’s favored pastoral themes. His approach here, prioritizing light and diffused shadow, translates the delicate nature of his oil painting style into a graphic format.

Corot was a key figure in the mid-19th century development of cliché-verre prints in France, demonstrating how traditional artists embraced technological innovation. This piece stands as evidence of the cross-pollination between art and science during this period. Preserved within the significant collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, this work remains an essential object for the study of French graphic arts and Corot’s complete oeuvre. Today, as an item accessible through public domain initiatives, this type of historic print continues to inform contemporary appreciation of 19th-century artistic experimentation.