Félix Bracquemond

This portrait shows one of the most famous collectors of contemporary prints in his private study. Goncourt and his brother Jules authored a multi-volume journal detailing their daily lives and friendships with artists. He built his collection through direct connections, seeking out works by living artists at a time when most others bought historical prints. His etchings—which he once described as “the happiness of my life”—were housed in portfolios like the one on the stand at lower right, allowing Goncourt to flip through them at his leisure.