Les petites faunesses - Eugène Grasset

A 1896 Art Nouveau lithograph by Eugène Grasset, depicting two faunesses in a woodland setting with clean lines and a muted, naturalistic palette.

Eugène Grasset, a Swiss-born designer active in Paris, produced this lithograph in 1896. It captures two young faunesses in a woodland setting, rendered with the characteristic graphic clarity of the Art Nouveau period. Grasset was a central figure in the development of the style, often drawing from natural forms and mythological subjects to create decorative compositions. The work displays a flat, two-dimensional quality typical of late nineteenth-century printmaking. The figures are defined by clean, flowing outlines, while the background foliage is simplified into blocks of muted colour. This approach reflects the influence of Japanese woodblock prints, which were widely collected and studied by European artists at the time. The composition balances the movement of the figures with the static, patterned nature of the surrounding trees and flowers. Grasset’s technical skill is evident in the controlled use of a limited palette. The interplay between the pale skin of the faunesses and the deep, forest-toned background creates a clear visual hierarchy. The inclusion of the artist's monogram and the date in the lower corner confirms its origin within his mature period of production. This print demonstrates his ability to integrate mythological themes into a decorative framework, a hallmark of his contributions to the graphic arts of the fin de siècle. The work remains a clear example of the period's interest in the intersection of classical mythology and modern graphic design, prioritising line and silhouette over traditional modelling or perspective.