The Funeral of the Burin (Frontispiece) - Félix Hilaire Buhot

A symbolic etching by Félix Hilaire Buhot, depicting the transition from 1876 to 1877 through the imagery of a funeral procession and a steam locomotive.

Félix Hilaire Buhot was a central figure in the nineteenth-century Etching Revival, a movement that sought to restore the status of printmaking as an original artistic medium. This work, titled The Funeral of the Burin, serves as a frontispiece for the publication L'Illustration Nouvelle. It functions as a visual allegory for the transition between artistic eras and technological progress.

The composition features a steam locomotive emerging from a tunnel, emblazoned with the publication title and the year 1877. This modern machine represents the rapid industrialisation of the period. In the background, a funeral procession marks the passing of 1876, symbolised by a coffin. The juxtaposition of the mechanical train and the traditional funerary scene creates a tension between the old world and the new. Buhot employs a dense, atmospheric application of etching and aquatint to build texture, particularly in the swirling smoke and the dark, cavernous tunnel entrance.

Buhot is known for his experimental approach to the printing process. He often manipulated the plate during the printing stage, using different inks and papers to achieve unique effects. This print demonstrates his technical mastery, as he balances fine, precise lines with broader, tonal areas of shadow. The inclusion of small, fantastical figures and cherubs in the upper portion of the print adds a layer of whimsical symbolism, a common trait in his work. This piece offers a glimpse into the artistic climate of late nineteenth-century Paris, where traditional craftsmanship met the encroaching influence of modern industry. It remains a significant example of Buhot's ability to blend narrative detail with technical innovation.