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.