Sunrise on Impressionism: 8 Félix Bracquemond

At the time of the First Impressionist Exhibition in 1874, there was more to the movement than painting alone. Several of those showing their work were sculptors, and quite a few showed prints. Among the latter was Félix Bracquemond (1833-1914), who did paint early in his career but was first and foremost a prolific engraver and print-maker.

Born in Paris, he initially trained as a lithographer, but then went to work for Guichard, who had been a pupil of JAD Ingres. A portrait of his was accepted for the Salon in 1852. After that youthful success, he concentrated on engraving and etching, rather than painting, and was part of the nineteenth century revival of print-making in France. He later went to work in the Sèvres porcelain factory, before working for Haviland, the manufacturer of Limoges porcelain, in 1870.

He was a long-standing friend of Manet and Whistler, as well as…