Robert Besnard (1881–1914), Little B of Villerville, 1884
Albert Besnardexpand_more
Etchingexpand_more
Bequest of Mrs. Charles S. Pillsburyexpand_more P.12,628
Not on Viewexpand_more
Young Robert, nicknamed Le Bi (Little B) by his mother, is shown at age three carrying a folder of papers in a park. People describing this print often mistake him for a girl because he wears a dress. However, boys at that time commonly wore dresses at least until they were toilet trained. (The dress eased both diaper changing and toilet training.) Robert’s short haircut and bangs firmly identify him as a boy. His plump cheeks, his defining characteristic, are gravity-defying as only a toddler’s can be.
The inscription pinpoints the setting as Villerville, a coastal village in Normandy, where the family spent much of the summer of 1884.
Details
- Title
- Robert Besnard (1881–1914), Little B of Villerville
- Artist Life
- Paris 1849–Paris 1934
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- P.12,628
- Catalogue Raisonne
- Delteil/Godefroy 20 i/ii; Coppier 15
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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