Dinner Service (Rousseau service): Roosters, ducks, etc. (no. 13) - Félix Bracquemond

A detailed etching by Félix Bracquemond, featuring a collection of poultry studies created for the iconic Rousseau dinner service.

This etching by Félix Bracquemond represents a specific plate from the celebrated Rousseau dinner service, a project that brought the aesthetic principles of Japonisme into the French domestic sphere. Commissioned by the porcelain manufacturer François-Eugène Rousseau, the service featured a series of designs inspired by Hokusai Manga, which Bracquemond had discovered in the late 1850s. The artist adapted these Japanese woodblock motifs to the medium of etching, creating a collection of plates that departed from the rigid, formal traditions of European ceramic decoration.

In this particular study, Bracquemond captures a variety of poultry, including roosters, ducks, and a pheasant, arranged across the plate with a sense of spontaneity. The composition avoids a central focus, allowing the viewer to observe each bird as an individual study of movement and form. The line quality is precise and calligraphic, mirroring the brushwork found in the original Japanese source material. Bracquemond employs varying densities of hatching to suggest the texture of feathers and the weight of the birds, while the negative space remains clean and unadorned. This approach reflects the broader shift in nineteenth-century French art toward asymmetrical balance and the observation of nature through a non-Western lens.

The Rousseau service is widely recognised for its role in popularising Japanese motifs among the Parisian avant-garde. By integrating these designs into functional objects, Bracquemond bridged the gap between fine art printmaking and the decorative arts. The work remains a clear example of the artist's technical skill in etching and his ability to synthesise disparate cultural influences into a cohesive, modern visual language. This print offers a glimpse into the creative process behind one of the most influential ceramic commissions of the period, demonstrating the clarity and economy of line that defined Bracquemond's contribution to the movement.