The Young Shepherd, second plate is a rare and evocative print created by Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot French, 1796-1875, between 1850 and 1860. This piece is significant for its experimental medium: cliché-verre on ivory photographic paper. Corot, renowned for his soft, atmospheric landscape paintings, embraced this hybrid technique which merged drawing and early photographic processes. To create the image, the artist scratched or etched the design onto a light-sensitive glass plate (the cliché). The plate was then used like a photographic negative, exposing the design onto the prepared paper to produce the final print. This allowed Corot (1796-1875) to achieve the delicate tonal qualities characteristic of his signature style while exploring reproducible graphic arts.
This specific work, representing a young shepherd in a rural setting, showcases Corot’s enduring interest in pastoral motifs and the tranquil, intimate depiction of life in 19th-century France. During this period, Corot perfected the misty, silvery light for which he is famous, translating that visual language effectively into the texture and depth of the cliché-verre medium. The use of ivory photographic paper complements the inherent hazy quality of the process, contributing to the print's overall dreamlike atmosphere.
As one of the significant prints produced by Corot, this piece provides essential insight into the experimental nature of French art and photography during the mid-1800s. Due to the labor-intensive technique and the fragility of the resulting images, original prints like this are highly valued. This exceptional example of The Young Shepherd, second plate is part of the extensive collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it serves as a valuable resource for studying 19th-century graphic arts and the early intersection of art and photographic technology. High-resolution images of master prints such as this are often made available through public domain initiatives, ensuring widespread scholarly access.
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