45 - E. BRETENIÈRES (*1804), Oeschinen Valley near Kandersteg, Bern, 1859, pencil

E. BRETENIÈRES (*1804), Oeschinen Valley near Kandersteg, Bern, 1859, pencil Edmond de Bretenières (1804 Dijon – 1882 ibid.): Oeschinen Valley near Kandersteg in the canton of Bern, trip to Switzerland, sketchbook, 1859, pencil Technique: Pencil on paper, mounted on paper Date: 1859 Description: From a scrapbook containing the artist’s travel sketches. “Esquisses faites par le Baron Edmond de Bretenières lors de ses voyages en Suisse” (Sketches made by Baron Edmond de Bretenières during his travels in Switzerland). This pencil drawing depicts a tranquil mountain landscape featuring a wide valley framed by high, rugged mountains. The composition guides the viewer’s gaze from the close-up, detailed trees in the foreground to the gently suggested mountain ranges in the background, which fade into the misty distance. A small hut is placed in the center of the picture, surrounded by trees, giving the landscape a human dimension. The lines are fine and precise, with sparse details that emphasize the natural tranquility of the scene. The drawing conveys an atmosphere of stillness and seclusion, enhanced by the delicate shading and soft contours of the mountains. Keywords: mountain landscape; valley; mountains; hut; trees; silence; nature; seclusion; peace; drawing; pencil; horizon; composition; line; shading; contour; perspective; landscape art; distance; harmony; 19th century; Romanticism; Landscape; Switzerland; Size: Paper: 23.7 cm x 30.8 cm (9.3 x 12.1 in) Condition: Good condition. The corners of the sheet are noticeably wavy due to mounting on the reverse. Several vertical creases are visible. Isolated pale liquid stains with browned edges.