Ivory Netsuke - Félix Hilaire Buhot

A detailed etching by Félix Hilaire Buhot depicting an ivory netsuke, reflecting the artist's interest in Japanese art and technical printmaking.

Félix Hilaire Buhot was a central figure in the late nineteenth-century revival of etching in France. His work often reflects the period's fascination with Japanese art, a movement known as Japonisme. This print depicts a netsuke, a small carved toggle used to secure personal items to a kimono sash. Buhot treats the object with the precision of a collector, capturing the texture of the carved ivory and the delicate cordage that suspends it.

The composition is typical of Buhot's experimental approach to printmaking. He frequently incorporated decorative borders and marginalia, which he referred to as 'symphonies'. Here, the central subject is framed by a subtle, textured background that suggests the quality of aged paper or parchment. The etching captures the narrative scene carved into the netsuke, showing figures amidst bamboo, rendered with fine, precise lines that contrast with the atmospheric tone of the surrounding area.

Buhot was known for his technical mastery, often combining multiple processes such as etching, drypoint, and aquatint on a single plate. This print demonstrates his ability to balance representational accuracy with a decorative sensibility. The inclusion of the inscription 'Collection de Monsieur Ph. Burty' refers to Philippe Burty, a prominent critic and collector who was instrumental in popularising Japanese art in Europe. By documenting such objects, Buhot participated in the broader cultural exchange between East and West that defined the aesthetic climate of the era. The print serves as a record of both the object itself and the collector's interest in the material culture of Japan.