Portrait of Edmond de Goncourt

In this tour de force of etching, Bracquemond depicts the collector, art critic, and author Edmond de Goncourt (1822–1896) at home. Bracquemond’s virtuosic handling of different textures makes the intimate space seem real. It is as if we have come upon Goncourt in a private moment, caught in the almost photographic immediacy of the swirling smoke of his cigarette. The elaborate background (replete with art objects) and the attitude and attire of Goncourt demonstrate his elevated social status while also highlighting his role as an art collector. A passionate collector of Japanese ukiyo-e prints, Goncourt wrote biographies of Utamaro (1753–1806) and Hokusai (1760–1849), two of his favorite artists. The portfolio on the stand in front of him bears the name of his late brother and collaborator, Jules de Goncourt (1830–1870). The sense of intrusion into a private moment would have made this image appealing to Goncourt’s literary fans. Likewise, the intricacy and skill of the artistic rendering would have been irresistible to print connoisseurs.