Jean-François Millet. 1814-1875.
La Bouillie (Gruel: Woman Feeding her Child). 1861. Etching. Delteil, Melot 17.iv/vi. 6 3/4 x 8 7/8 (sheet 7 x 10 1/2). Produced at the request of Burty to illustrate his article in the Gazette des Beaux Arts, 1861. Printed by Delâtre on tan chine, applied to sturdy cream wove paper. The image pictures Millet's daughter, Madame Heymann, and her baby. Signed and dated in the plate. $3,000.
Bracquemond, who provided technical expertise, writes of the biting, as quoted by Delteil: “Copper was frankly attacked. It bit the first time well. One covered the bottom and one made bite again. Lastly, Millet made a point of posing itself two keys of pure acid on the head of the woman and of its child. At once that the brush had touched, Bracquemond threw water drops quickly. We went to Delâtre. A workman drew us from the tests. With the third, Millet stopped with the drypoint large clearly on the neck of the woman, put some features on the shade of the bonnet, some points in the wrist which supports the child. We made draw in all 19, including two improved. Braquemond will add the signature to it.”
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