Jean-Jacques Henner

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en"> <head> <meta charset="UTF-8"> <meta http-equiv=X-UA-Compatible content="IE=edge"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width,initial-scale=1.0,minimum-scale=1.0, maximum-scale=1.0, user-scalable=no"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="180x180" href="https://static.mutualart.com/img/favicon/apple-touch-icon.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="32x32" href="https://static.mutualart.com/img/favicon/favicon-32x32.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="16x16" href="https://static.mutualart.com/img/favicon/favicon-16x16.png"> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="https://static.mutualart.com/img/favicon/favicon.ico"> <link rel="mask-icon" href="https://static.mutualart.com/img/favicon/safari-pinned-tab.svg" color="#55565e"> <link rel="manifest" crossorigin="use-credentials" href="/img/favicon/site.webmanifest"> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://connect.facebook.net" /> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://apis.google.com" /> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://media.mutualart.com" /> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://static.mutualart.com" /> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://static.mutualart.com" /> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://www.googletagmanager.com" /> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://www.googletagmanager.com" /> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//static.hotjar.com" /> <meta name="msapplication-TileColor" content="#cf6766"> <meta name="msapplication-config" content="/img/favicon/browserconfig.xml"> <meta name="theme-color" content="#131621"> <meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-title" content="Jean-Jacques Henner"> <meta name="application-name" content="Jean-Jacques Henner"> <meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-title" content="MutualArt"> <meta name="application-name" content="MutualArt"> <meta name="mobile-web-app-capable" content="yes"> <meta name="description" content="Jean-Jacques Henner, a 19th-century French painter, mastered chiaroscuro and sfumato, blending light and shadow to create ethereal, emotionally resonant works"> <meta name="robots" content="index, follow"> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.mutualart.com/Article/An-Ethereal-Treatment-of-Light-and-Shado/C8721DC0C3371958" /> <meta property="fb:app_id" content="198347911566" /> <meta property="og:title" itemprop="name" content="Jean-Jacques Henner"> <meta property="og:type" content="website"> <meta property="og:image" itemprop="image" content="https://media.mutualart.com/Images/2024_11/20/15/153349172/3f50d6ad-b2f9-4b2b-bb6f-496f55c1193e_570.Jpeg"> <meta property="og:description" itemprop="description" content="Jean-Jacques Henner, a 19th-century French painter, mastered chiaroscuro and sfumato, blending light and shadow to create ethereal, emotionally resonant works"> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.mutualart.com/Article/An-Ethereal-Treatment-of-Light-and-Shado/C8721DC0C3371958"> <title>Jean-Jacques Henner</title> <link rel="preload" href="https://static.mutualart.com/fonts/lato/lato-v17-latin-regular.woff2" as="font" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" href="https://static.mutualart.com/fonts/icomoon.ttf?1732095583" as="font" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" href="https://static.mutualart.com/bundles/css?v=7OtRQgDWYDceD65v7yciLovhA9IHaN6C-ZGfGwlLh9Q1" as="style" ><link href="https://static.mutualart.com/bundles/css?v=7OtRQgDWYDceD65v7yciLovhA9IHaN6C-ZGfGwlLh9Q1" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><script onerror="OnScriptLoadError.apply(this, event)" crossorigin src="https://static.mutualart.com/bundles/top?v=WUnI-Wo5AQoQqSCrvx8cygA-9FXvXNfU4uAtBYUeT0Q1"></script> <script> var cloud_cache_dir = "https://static.mutualart.com"; function OnScriptLoadError(evt) { var msg = 'Failed to load script ' + event.target.src; var strErr = "Error: " + msg + "\nuserAgent: " + navigator.userAgent + "\npage url: " + location.href; var errObject = { 'Error': msg, 'userAgent': navigator.userAgent, 'page url': location.href }; if (console["stack"]) errObject.Stack = console.stack(); console.error(strErr); return true; }; </script> <script src="https://js.sentry-cdn.com/51a5212141305f11ff6ec0066011b0c1.min.js" crossorigin="anonymous"></script> <script> Sentry.init({ dsn: 'https://51a5212141305f11ff6ec0066011b0c1@o4506104342773760.ingest.sentry.io/4506179198386176', environment: 'production', replaysSessionSampleRate: 0.1, replaysOnErrorSampleRate: 1.0 }); </script> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-Q072QTKD30"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag() { dataLayer.push(arguments); } gtag('js', new Date()); var _uat = 'GTM-PX3PWRS'; var _confData = { 'dimension1': 'Unknown', 'dimension2': 'Open', 'dimension4': 'prod', 'debug_mode': 'true' }; gtag('config', 'UA-3893610-1', { 'custom_map': _confData }); gtag('config', 'G-Q072QTKD30', { 'custom_map': _confData }); gtag('config', 'AW-10982000200'); </script> <script type="application/ld+json"> {"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"Article","headline":"Jean-Jacques Henner","image":["https://media.mutualart.com/Images//2024_11/20/15/153349172/29d2a084-1b30-4748-9d9f-8c762dbde674.Jpeg"],"description":"Jean-Jacques Henner, a 19th-century French painter, mastered chiaroscuro and sfumato, blending light and shadow to create ethereal, emotionally... ","url":"https://www.mutualart.com/Article/An-Ethereal-Treatment-of-Light-and-Shado/C8721DC0C3371958","datePublished":"11/22/2024 12:00:00 AM","dateModified":"11/22/2024 12:00:00 AM","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"MutualArt News","sameAs":"https://www.mutualart.com/magazine","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://www.mutualart.com/img/mutualartShareLogo.jpg"}},"articleSection":"Interviews & Profiles","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Benjamin Blake Evemy "}} </script> </head> <body class="new-nav not-past-paid-user sub-1- "> <script> window["baseDomain"] = "https://www.mutualart.com"; window["PageID"] = "52b01312-907e-4d36-b66d-bd1124a1c20b"; window["segment"] = "Open"; window["page_name"] = "article"; window["unique_id"] = null; window["entity_id"] = "C8721DC0C3371958"; window["subscription_type_id"] = '19EFD20D308FB8EE'; window["popupIdParam"] = ""; </script> <script> var ScopedVariables = {}; ScopedVariables["price_subscription_types"] = {"open":"19EFD20D308FB8EE","basic":"84FFB49EF5919E6A","premium":"16548922442CA335","terminated":"291443E2B31881C2","personal_alerts":"0EB6EBC43B2996A2","vip":"05842E6908C89EB9","personal_alerts(_starter)":"CC04A6781D2155E4","free":"63CF4ACB1F6AE76E","essentials":"70F3BA69A7C11779"}; ScopedVariables["paid_user"] = false; ScopedVariables["promoPlan"] = "66BB7FF8E216A1B7"; ScopedVariables["etag"] = "System.Data.Entity.DynamicProxies.TransactionDO_CD5B4DE031AEDFC0D9834FFA172E3DBE77DD508A3EE15D865F461E5B0DD9B3B9"; </script>  <div class="print-only print-header"><img src="https://static.mutualart.com/img/logo-white-24.svg" alt="MutualArt"></div> <nav id="ma-navigation" class="logout desktop-mode" data-navigation-bar> <div class="container-fluid ma-menu-container-fluid"> <div class="nav-header header-border-bottom"> <div class="logo-container"> <a href="/"> <img src="https://static.mutualart.com/img/logo-white-24.svg" alt="MutualArt"> </a> </div> <div id="menu-burger" data-mixpanel='{ "CTA Name":"Menu Burger" }' data-gtm="event,navigation,burger click" class="new-tag-mobile"> <span class="menu-burger-icon"></span> </div> <div id="menu-mobile-search"> <i class="m-icon-search-img"></i> </div> <div class="nav-search-container search-component">  <span class="mobile-search-back"> <i class="m-icon-search-back"></i> </span> <form novalidate data-suggestion data-navigation-search-component class="search-form search-input-container"> <div class="relative"> <button type="button" class="search-button"><i class="m-icon-search-img"></i></button> <input type="text" novalidate required class="form-control" tabindex="-1" placeholder="Search by artist, artwork, auction etc." onfocus="this.placeholder = ''" onblur="this.placeholder = 'Search by artist, artwork, auction etc.'" autocomplete="off"> <button type="button" class="clear-search-results"><i class="m-icon-menu-close"></i></button> <div class="progress"> <div class="indeterminate"></div> </div> </div> </form> </div> <div class="nav-user-container"> <div class="guest-container hidden-collapsible"> <a href="/login">Log in</a> <a href="/signup">Sign up</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="nav-menu has-social"> <div class="mobile-banner">  <a data-gtm="event,navigation,banner click" href="/signup/9CC65B84D27075C0"> <div class="reward-image"> <img data-src="https://media.mutualart.com/ExternalImages/Rewards/ICON-%20REWARDS-24.png" alt="Free (24$ Value)"> </div> <div class="reward-text"> <h4>1 Month Free Personal Alerts</h4> <p>View upcoming auction estimates and receive personalized email alerts for the artists you follow.</p> </div> <i class="m-icon-arrow reward-arrow"></i> </a> </div> <ul id="prepend-menu-items"> <li> <a data-submenu="#submenu-artists" href="/artists">Artists</a> </li> <li> <a data-submenu="#submenu-auctions" href="/auction-search">Auctions</a> </li> <li> <a data-submenu="#submenu-exhibitions" class="link-on-mobile" href="/exhibitions">Exhibitions</a> </li> <li> <a data-submenu="#submenu-artmarket" href="/art-market-data">Analysis</a> </li> <li> <a data-submenu="#submenu-services" href="/price-database">Services</a> </li> <li> <a data-submenu="#submenu-magazine" href="/magazine" class="link-on-mobile">Magazine</a> </li> <li> <a class="link-on-mobile" href="/my-collection/plans?From=nav"> My Collection </a> </li> <li><a class="active" href="/plans">Pricing</a></li> </ul> <div class="mobile-user-settings"> <ul> <li><a href="/login">Log in</a></li> <li><a href="/signup">Sign up</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <div id="submenu-container">  <div id="submenu-artists" class="nav-menu-submenu new-menu "> <a class="mobile-back">< <span>ARTISTS</span></a> <div class="container-fluid only-desktop"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-3"> <div class="new-menu-card "> <a class="new-menu-heading-link" href="/artists">ARTISTS RECOMMENDATION ></a> <p class="new-menu-desc"> Artists suggestions based on your preferences </p> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-2"> <div class="new-menu-card new-menu-artist-separator long"> <a class="new-menu-heading-link" href="/artist-discovery">ARTIST DISCOVERY ></a> <p class="new-menu-desc"> Filter by media, style, movement, nationality and activity period </p> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-2"> <div class="new-menu-card new-menu-submenu new-menu-artist-separator"> <a class="new-menu-desc" href="/artist-discovery?filters=bm1">Painting</a> <a class="new-menu-desc" href="/artist-discovery?filters=bm5">Prints & Graphic Art</a> <a class="new-menu-desc" href="/artist-discovery?filters=bm12">Works on Paper</a> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-2"> <div class="new-menu-card new-menu-submenu "> <a class="new-menu-desc" href="/artist-discovery?filters=bm2">Sculpture</a> <a class="new-menu-desc" href="/artist-discovery?filters=bm3">Photography</a> <a class="new-menu-desc" href="/artist-discovery">Discover more ></a> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-3"> <div class="new-menu-card new-menu-artist-separator long"> <a class="new-menu-heading-link" href="/ArtistsIndex">artist index ></a> <p class="new-menu-desc"> Search artists by name or category </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="submenu-auctions" class="nav-menu-submenu has-prom-otion new-menu"> <a class="mobile-back">< <span>AUCTIONS</span></a> <div class="container-fluid only-desktop"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-3"> <div class="new-menu-card"> <a class="new-menu-heading-link" href="/auction-search">AUCTION LOT SEARCH ></a> <p class="new-menu-desc"> Detailed results for millions of lots </p> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-3"> <div class="new-menu-card"> <a class="new-menu-heading-link" href="/auction-results"> AUCTION RESULTS > </a> <p class="new-menu-desc"> Overall performance of recent notable sales </p> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-3"> <div class="new-menu-card"> <a class="new-menu-heading-link" href="/buy-art">UPCOMING LOT SEARCH ></a> <p class="new-menu-desc"> Browse all types of artworks for sale </p> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-3"> <div class="new-menu-card"> <a class="new-menu-heading-link" href="/art-auction">UPCOMING AUCTIONS ></a> <p class="new-menu-desc"> Notable sales happening this month </p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-3"> <div class="new-menu-card"> <a class="new-menu-heading-link" href="/artworks-for-sale">POST-AUCTION LOTS FOR SALE ></a> <p class="new-menu-desc"> Buy unsold paintings, prints and more for the best price </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="submenu-exhibitions" class="nav-menu-submenu new-menu"> <a class="mobile-back">< <span>EXHIBITIONS</span></a> <div class="container-fluid only-desktop"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-3"> <div class="new-menu-card"> <a class="new-menu-heading-link" href="/exhibitions">EXHIBITIONS AROUND THE WORLD ></a> <p class="new-menu-desc"> Upcoming exhibitions at your preferred locations </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="submenu-artmarket" class="nav-menu-submenu new-menu "> <a class="mobile-back">< <span>ANALYSIS</span></a> <div class="container-fluid only-desktop"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-3"> <div class="new-menu-card"> <a class="new-menu-heading-link" href="/art-market-data">MARKET ANALYSIS ></a> <p class="new-menu-desc"> Global snapshot, top performers and top lots </p> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-3"> <div class="new-menu-card" id="artist-intelligence"> <a class="new-menu-heading-link" href="/art-market-data#artist-performance">ARTIST PERFORMANCE ></a> <p class="new-menu-desc"> Charts on artist trends and performance over time, ready to export </p> <a class="new-menu-heading-link margin-top-10 text-transform-none" href="/Artist/Andy-Warhol/85A84FA828A34B78/Graphs">See example</a> </div> </div> <div id="analysis-register-now"> <div class="col-md-4 center-align"> <div class="new-menu-card-cta"> Access complete market analysis </div> </div> <div class="col-md-2"> <div class="new-menu-card-cta button-dimensions"> <a class="btn-banner" href="/signup" data-mixpanel='{ "CTA Name": "Sign Up", "Identifier": "New Header"}'>REGISTER NOW</a> </div> </div> </div> <div id="analysis-upgrade-now"> <div class="col-md-4 center-align"> <div class="new-menu-card-cta desc-margin-set"> Unlock exclusive artist performance data </div> </div> <div class="col-md-2"> <div class="new-menu-card-cta button-dimensions"> <a class="btn-banner" href="/upgrade" data-mixpanel='{ "CTA Name": "Upgrade", "Identifier": "New Header"}'>UPGRADE NOW</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="submenu-services" class="nav-menu-submenu new-menu"> <a class="mobile-back">< <span>SERVICES</span></a> <div class="container-fluid only-desktop"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-3"> <div class="new-menu-card"> <a class="new-menu-heading-link" href="/art-appraisal">ONLINE ART APPRAISAL ></a> <p class="new-menu-desc"> Get your artworks appraised online in 72 hours or less by experienced IFAA accredited professionals </p> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-3"> <div class="new-menu-card"> <a class="new-menu-heading-link" href="/sell-artwork">SELL YOUR ART ></a> <p class="new-menu-desc"> Get the best price for your artwork or collection. </p> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-3"> <div class="new-menu-card"> <a class="new-menu-heading-link" href="/art-market-alerts">MARKET ALERTS ></a> <p class="new-menu-desc"> We notify you each time your favorite artists feature in an exhibition, auction or the press </p> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-3"> <div class="new-menu-card"> <a class="new-menu-heading-link" href="/price-database">AUCTION PRICE DATABASE ></a> <p class="new-menu-desc"> Access detailed sales records for over 811,000 artists, and more than two decades of past auction results </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="submenu-magazine" class="nav-menu-submenu hidden-sm new-menu"> <a class="mobile-back">< <span>MAGAZINE</span></a> <div class="container-fluid only-desktop"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-2"> <div class="magazine-card"> <a class="magazine-card-img-div " href="/Article/Defining-Questions-for-the-Tokenized-Dig/116E021F6883F021"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://media.mutualart.com/Images/2024_11/19/13/132759402/5e4d8b83-4025-4776-b66d-27de51008b26_160.Jpeg" alt="Defining Questions for the Tokenized Digital Art Market (Part III): The Role of Star Artists and Mega Galleries" title="Defining Questions for the Tokenized Digital Art Market (Part III): The Role of Star Artists and Mega Galleries" /> </a> <div class="magazine-card-heading"> <a href="/magazine/market">Market</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-2"> <div class="magazine-card"> <a class="magazine-card-img-div " href="/Article/An-Ethereal-Treatment-of-Light-and-Shado/C8721DC0C3371958"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://media.mutualart.com/Images/2024_11/20/15/153349172/8d391cb2-0e17-4125-88cc-accd8af4a677_160.Jpeg" alt="An Ethereal Treatment of Light and Shadow: The Paintings of Jean-Jacques Henner" title="An Ethereal Treatment of Light and Shadow: The Paintings of Jean-Jacques Henner" /> </a> <div class="magazine-card-heading"> <a href="/magazine/interviews-and-profiles">Interviews & Profiles</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-2"> <div class="magazine-card"> <a class="magazine-card-img-div " href="/Article/Psychedelic-Abstraction-and-the-Sublime/28E3BA04B86FC986"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://media.mutualart.com/Images/2024_11/13/14/140355750/252d8a76-3a72-40af-a806-0934bef8e724_160.Jpeg" alt="Psychedelic Abstraction and the Sublime" title="Psychedelic Abstraction and the Sublime" /> </a> <div class="magazine-card-heading"> <a href="/magazine/art-history">Art History</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-2"> <div class="magazine-card"> <a class="magazine-card-img-div " href="/Article/The-Art-World-This-Week--Duct-taped-Bana/24ED429D6C9861F4"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://media.mutualart.com/Images/2024_11/21/13/135409993/032b1689-3464-4846-b83a-642010c4c09f_160.Jpeg" alt="The Art World This Week: Duct-taped Banana Sells for $6.2M, British Museum Receives Chinese Ceramics Worth $1.2B, Magritte Painting Breaks Record for $121M, and More" title="The Art World This Week: Duct-taped Banana Sells for $6.2M, British Museum Receives Chinese Ceramics Worth $1.2B, Magritte Painting Breaks Record for $121M, and More" /> </a> <div class="magazine-card-heading"> <a href="/magazine/news">News</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-2"> <div class="magazine-card"> <a class="magazine-card-img-div " href="/Article/Book-Review--Carrie-Ann-Baade-and-the-Ja/7D952F2BE44CF9EB"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://media.mutualart.com/Images/2024_11/06/14/144137357/f57acd66-26bf-428f-a1a8-2f0758e2086f_160.Jpeg" alt="Book Review: Carrie Ann Baade and the Jabberwockies" title="Book Review: Carrie Ann Baade and the Jabberwockies" /> </a> <div class="magazine-card-heading"> <a href="/magazine/book-reviews">Book Reviews</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-2"> <div class="magazine-card"> <a class="magazine-card-img-div " href="/Article/Sacred-Art--Identity-and-Conflict-in-Kor/B401FDEE342B2701"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://media.mutualart.com/Images/2024_11/13/14/141910885/b1a01e5c-6c62-44ea-9916-58fb1133efc7_160.Jpeg" alt="Sacred Art: Identity and Conflict in Korean Cultural Expression" title="Sacred Art: Identity and Conflict in Korean Cultural Expression" /> </a> <div class="magazine-card-heading"> <a href="/magazine/columns-and-series">Columns & Series</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="magazine-all-link"> <a href="/magazine">SEE ALL ARTICLES ></a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="result-block-container navsearch full-screen">  <div class="search-results"> <ul></ul> </div> <div class="promoted-results search-history"> <div class="promoted-header"> <i class="m-icon-history1"></i> Search History <button type="button"><i class="m-icon-trash-bin"></i></button> </div> <div class="promoted-content"> </div> </div> <div class="promoted-results trending"> <div class="promoted-header"> <i class="m-icon-trending-icon"></i> Trending <button><i class="m-icon-Look"></i></button> </div> <div class="promoted-content expanded"> <a>Coalport</a> <a>Chinese Export School</a> <a>Pierre-Antoine Bellangé</a> <a>Armand Marseille</a> <a>Campbell</a> <a>Jean-Claude Dragomir</a> <a>Window Seat</a> <a>British School</a> <a>Anne James</a> <a>Jean Branchet</a> </div> </div> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> var PerformenceAtts = {}; var _pguid = 'A3AA304F1306C9938F2D3351535B7C33'; var mixpanelMngo = new mixpanelMng(); mixpanelMngo.Init(); mixpanelMngo.isPaid(false); mixpanel.init('542810c9f2bead55e257c56300dcac4e', { 'track_pageview': false, loaded: function (mixpanel) { var mpi = mixpanel.get_distinct_id(); setCookie("MPI", mpi); mixpanel.register_once({ 'Unique ID': mpi}); } } ); $(window).on("load", function () { mixpanel.identify(); mixpanel.people.set_once({ "First Event Date": "2024-11-25T12:54:00" }); //set user details for all users mixpanel.people.set({ "Current URL": document.URL, "Last Visit": "2024-11-25T12:54:00", 'Subscription Plan': 'Open', 'Is Paid User?':false, 'Is Paid Collection User?':false, 'IP': '8.222.208.146', 'Last Visitor ID': getCookie('vd'), 'IsAB': 'false', 'Functionality Cookies': 'True', }); mixpanel.register({ 'Subscription Plan': 'Open', 'Is Paid User?':false, 'Is Paid Collection User?':false, 'Full Url': document.URL, 'IP': '8.222.208.146', 'IsAB': 'false', 'WebDriver': navigator['webdriver'], }); // mixpanel.register_once({'UniqueID': mixpanel.get_distinct_id().toString()}); mixpanelMngo.pageName = 'Article Detail Page'; mixpanel.register_once({'First Time': true});var mp_track_data = {"IsAB":false,"Is AMP":false,"Entity ID":"C8721DC0C3371958","Article Name":"An Ethereal Treatment of Light and Shadow: The Paintings of Jean-Jacques Henner","Article Category":["Interviews \u0026 Profiles"],"Article Date":"2024-11-22T12:00:00","Page Name":"Article"};mixpanel.track('View Article Detail Page', $.extend(mp_track_data, window['mixpanelMngo'] && window['mixpanelMngo']['getBrowserDetails'] ? window['mixpanelMngo']['getBrowserDetails']() : null), function(){ mixpanel.register({'First Time': false})}); mixpanel.people.increment({"# of Viewed Pages":1,"# Of Viewed Articles":1}); mixpanelMngo.campaignParams(); mixpanelMngo.afterFirstLoad(); mixpanel.register({ "Source Page": formatPageName(page_name) }); }); </script> <script src="https://accounts.google.com/gsi/client"></script> <script async='' id='default_adplace' src='/cmp/get1?idn=default_adplace&idPage=52b01312-907e-4d36-b66d-bd1124a1c20b&adt=0&v=1732539240'></script> <div class="page-content Article">  <div class="container-fluid"> <div class="new-article-heading-div"> <div class="new-article-heading-breadcrumbs-div"> <a href="/magazine">Magazine</a> <a href="/magazine/interviews-and-profiles">Interviews & Profiles</a> </div> <div class="new-article-heading-title"> Jean-Jacques Henner </div> </div> </div> <hr class="new-article-heading-hr"> <div class="article-details-heading section container-fluid" id="" > <div class="" id=""> <script> $(document).ready(function () { var articleBody = $('.new-article-page-body-container .new-article-page-body'); var paragraphs = articleBody.find('p'); for (var i = 0; i < paragraphs.length; i++) { var paragraph = $(paragraphs[i]); var hasText = paragraph.contents().filter(function () { return this.nodeType == 3 }).length > 0; if (hasText) { paragraph.addClass('speakable-body'); break; } } }); </script> <div class="new-article"> <div class="new-article-cover-div"> <div class="new-article-cover-content-div"> <div class="new-article-cover-content"> <h1 class="new-article-cover-content-title speakable-title">An Ethereal Treatment of Light and Shadow: The Paintings of Jean-Jacques Henner</h1> <p class="new-article-cover-content-desc speakable-title"> Jean-Jacques Henner, a 19th-century French painter, mastered chiaroscuro and sfumato, blending light and shadow to create ethereal, emotionally resonant works </p> <div class="new-article-cover-content-source"> <p>Benjamin Blake Evemy / MutualArt</p> <p>Nov 22, 2024</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="new-article-cover-img-div"> <img src="https://media.mutualart.com/Images/2024_11/20/15/153349172/3f50d6ad-b2f9-4b2b-bb6f-496f55c1193e_570.Jpeg" alt="An Ethereal Treatment of Light and Shadow: The Paintings of Jean-Jacques Henner" class="img-responsive" /> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-10 col-sm-8"> <div class="new-article-page-body-container container-fluid"> <div class="new-article-page-body"> <p>A lily-white nymph reclines by a riverside; a partially-stripped Mary Magdalene gazes repentant from where she sits slumped against the wall of her Teacher’s tomb; a Venus with hair like spreading flame is kissed by light and shadow. Through a marriage of the Renaissance techniques of sfumato and chiaroscuro, 19th-century French painter <a class="SingleLineItemLink" target="_blank" href="/Artist/Jean-Jacques-Henner/A064A8F3ED6C61E8">Jean-Jacques Henner</a> created pieces in which his subjects seemingly radiate, like lantern light in a pitch-dark forest.</p> <p><img alt="Jean-Jacques Henner, La Liseuse, 1880-1890, oil on canvas, Mus茅e d鈥橭rsay, Paris" src="https://media.mutualart.com/Images/Articles/11_2024/20/2223855b-f49d-46fc-8bc2-b250de84da71-Henner La Liseuse.Jpeg" /><span style="font-size:10px;">Jean-Jacques <a class="SingleLineItemLink" target="_blank" href="/Artist/Jean-Jacques-Henner/A064A8F3ED6C61E8">Henner</a>, <em>La Liseuse</em>, 1880-1890, oil on canvas, Musée d’Orsay, Paris</span></p> <p>Jean-Jacques Henner was born in March of 1829, in the Alsatian village of Bernwiller – the youngest of a modest, hardworking family. His artistic talent manifested at a young age, and proved to be the boy’s true strength, for he was a frail child, not naturally suited to the task of tilling the earth, which was the family trade. Thankfully, Henner’s parents recognized the fact, and encouraged their son’s obvious interest in drawing, exempting him to work in the fields like the other children. Jean-Jacques’ father, clearly an extremely supportive and understanding figure, would tell the young boy that he would become a great artist. He also told the other boys that they were to continue to support his artistic achievements after he was gone. They would make good on this mandate.</p> <p><img alt="Jean-Jacques Henner, Solitude or Penitent Magdalene, c. 1881, oil on canvas, Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University, Stanford" src="https://media.mutualart.com/Images/Articles/11_2024/20/9c3a0743-550f-42c1-afa4-0d73999867a5-Henner - Solitude.Jpeg" /></p> <p><span style="font-size:10px;">Jean-Jacques Henner, <em>Solitude</em> or <em>Penitent Magdalene</em>, c. 1881, oil on canvas, Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University, Stanford</span></p> <p>Mary Magdalene is a subject often frequented by Henner. The artist possessed a penchant for painting both red-headed female nudes and religious themes, so the inclination naturally makes sense. In 1881’s <em>Solitude</em>, Magdalene leans against the tomb of Jesus, head tilted to her right, eyes shut tight, hands clasped, lost in throes of immense lamentation for her lost love. Due to Henner’s adept use of chiaroscuro, the subject’s pale flesh is in profound contrast to the stygian gloom of the tomb. The lustrous quality of her skin is also heightened by the coarseness of her robes.</p> <p>Not only did Henner’s overall artistic talent manifest from a young age, his particular style also did. Upon completion of his schooling at Altkirch, his drawing-master, Charles Goutzwiller, advised him to go to Strasburg, where he entered the studio of Gabriel Guérin. It was here that his innate talent for chiaroscuro swiftly became apparent. When his master died, there was little keeping Henner in the region, and he promptly left for the nation’s capital.</p> <p>Once in Paris, Henner entered the studio of neoclassicist Michel Drolling, but found himself struggling financially. He would take commissions for portraits where and when he could, but they were infrequent and oftentimes underpaid. Instead of asking his master for help, Henner decided to return to Alsace. He would remain in his home region for the next two years, working furiously and saving every franc he possibly could in order to return to Paris and resume his studies under Drolling.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-10 col-sm-8"> <div class="new-article-page-body-container container-fluid"> <div class="new-article-page-body"> <p>Upon Henner’s return, Drolling did little to conceal his shock at his pupil’s long, unexplained absence. Yet being another figure in the young artist’s life who wholeheartedly believed in his talent and hard work, Drolling encouraged Henner to compete for the Prix de Rome. He also organized an annuity for the younger artist with the department of the Lower Rhine. Unfortunately, Henner’s master perished from a swift and merciless illness merely several days later, leaving the artist unable to truly thank him for all that he had done.</p> <p><img alt="Jean-Jacques Henner, The Dream or Sleeping Nymph, c.1896-1900, oil on canvas, Mus茅e national Jean-Jacques Henner, Paris " src="https://media.mutualart.com/Images/Articles/11_2024/20/d5cc4bd3-0ef4-4006-9037-337d1f332fd6-Henner Sleeping Nymph.Jpeg" /><span style="font-size:10px;">Jean-Jacques Henner, <em>The Dream</em> or <em>Sleeping Nymph</em>, c.1896-1900, oil on canvas, Musée national Jean-Jacques Henner, Paris </span></p> <p>Henner’s <em>The Dream</em>, also known as <em>Sleeping Nymph</em>, showcases the artist’s skill with sfumato. The contours of the female nude take on an ethereal quality, the oil on canvas equivalent to the photographic soft focus. Henner was obviously very much aware of the subsequent effect, as both of the painting’s titles are oneiric, and one gazes upon the subject as if lost in the throes of dream themselves.</p> <p>After being awarded a medal from the École des Beaux-Arts, which additionally granted him admission into the studio of François-Édouard Picot, Henner entered and won the Prix de Rome. Although, the joy of the accomplishment was somewhat bittersweet for the twenty-seven year old Henner, as his mother had died shortly beforehand. As a part of winning the award, Henner was granted the right to live in Rome for three to five years at the state’s expense. The artist thrived in the Italian capital, much enamored with the ancient city, completing one significant work for each of the five years he was in its sun-kissed streets.</p> <p>Henner returned to Paris in 1865, where he moved into what would be his final home, situated in the Place Pigalle. Here, he entered a period of immense creativity. Perhaps the house itself had an effect conducive to painting, for it concurrently, and subsequently housed many great artists, including Théodore Rousseau, Giovanni Boldini, Puvis de Chavannes, and the brothers Dupré. Whether or not the dwelling itself served to attract and inspire painters, Henner certainly thrived there. He threw himself into his work with an ascetic fervor not dissimilar to that of a monk. His studio was his shrine, and it was there that he was completely and utterly in his element. In the mornings he would work on genre paintings and landscapes, and in the afternoons on portraits. His devotion to his work is evident in every piece, for he executed each to the highest of standards, refusing to merely produce for the sake of it.</p> <p>But this relentless dedication was not without its side-effects. Being decidedly critical of every single piece produced, meant that Henner was oftentimes not completely satisfied with the outcome, and as a subsequence, the work was destroyed by the hand that created it. As mad as it may sound, this act of Godlike creation and destruction is a testament to Henner’s wholeheartedly earnest approach to his art, for there was no outside influence involved. His piece <em>Study of a Young Girl</em> earnt Henner a medal of the first class, yet he destroyed it upon its return to the studio. The following year <em>The Toilet</em> met the same fate, despite receiving high praise from the Salon.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-2 col-sm-4"> </div> <div class="col-md-10 col-sm-8"> <div class="new-article-page-body-container container-fluid"> <div class="new-article-page-body"> <p><img alt="Jean-Jacques Henner, The Sleeper, date unknown, oil on canvas, Mus茅e de Picardie, Amiens " src="https://media.mutualart.com/Images/Articles/11_2024/20/ed60a3af-47dd-4c4b-b23e-3fec6082b007-Jean Jacques Henner The Sleeper.Jpeg" /><span style="font-size:10px;">Jean-Jacques Henner, <em>The Sleeper</em>, date unknown, oil on canvas, Musée de Picardie, Amiens</span></p> <p>Henner’s<em> The Sleeper </em>serves as the epitome of the artist’s ability to marry sfumato and chiaroscuro to result in a decidedly unique and immensely striking effect. The palest of women reposes on what, judging by the color and texture, appears to be a moss-soft patch of grass. The mass of her coppery auburn hair spills suffused into the bracken-esque brown of her surroundings, and the creeping darkness found in the upper lefthand corner forms a stark contrast against the ghostlike curves of her form. <em>The Sleeper</em> is a sumptuous piece, where desire springs forth both strong and soft, at first caressing and then all-consuming.</p> <p>Jean-Jacques Henner was steadfast in his life’s work. He did not seek fame, nor riches – even though both did come, only to create what was true to his artistic vision. He died on July 23, 1905, aged 76, and was fittingly laid to rest in Paris’ <em>Cimetière de Montmartre</em>.</p> <hr style="box-sizing: content-box; height: 0px; font-family: lato, Moderat, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(19, 23, 33); font-size: 15px;" /> <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 22px; font-family: lato, Moderat, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(19, 23, 33); font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;">For more on auctions, exhibitions, and current trends, visit our <a href="https://www.mutualart.com/Magazine" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(207, 103, 102); text-decoration-line: none; outline: 0px; cursor: pointer; font-family: latobold, sans-serif;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">Magazine Page</a></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>  <div class="" id="" >  <div class="container-fluid new-article-page-related-artists-div homepage-artists"> <div class="new-article-page-more-article-title text-center"> <h3 class="title">Related Artists</h3> </div> <div class="slider-component card-controls card-slider slick-slider-list rel-articles-slider"> <div class="homepage_artists_spaceing text-center col-xs-6 col-sm-4 col-md-3 col-lg-3"> <div class="item-content"> <div class="tac"> <a class="img-block" href="/Artist/Jean-Jacques-Henner/A064A8F3ED6C61E8"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://media.mutualart.com/Images/2009_03/11/0032/100529/100529_5e66c121-1db6-47f6-998d-231ff0f6075e_-1_273.Jpeg" alt="Jean-Jacques Henner (French, 1829 - 1905)" title="Jean-Jacques Henner (French, 1829 - 1905)"> </a> </div> <h6 class="name"> <a href="/Artist/Jean-Jacques-Henner/A064A8F3ED6C61E8" class="link"> Jean-Jacques Henner </a> </h6> <span class="gray-light artist-city-align"> French, 1829 - 1905</span><br /> <br /> <div class="follow-container block text-center"> <a class="btn-follow btn-theme btn-theme-block" data-mixpanel='{ "Entity ID":"A064A8F3ED6C61E8", "Entity Type":"Person" }' data-gtm="event,click FOLLOW"href="/Signup?command=follow-A064A8F3ED6C61E8&source_page=Article&cta=Follow" >FOLLOW</a> </div> </div> </div>  </div> </div> <script> $(document).ready(function () { slickOn('.rel-articles-slider'); }) var slickOn = function (item) { $(item).slick({ arrows: true, dots: true, variableWidth: false, infinite: false, centerPadding: '20px', slidesToShow: 4, slidesToScroll: 3, dotsClass: "slick-dots bottom-dots", prevArrow: '<a class="nav-hov active left"><i class="m-icon-keyboard_arrow_left"></i></a>', nextArrow: '<a class="nav-hov active right"><i class="m-icon-keyboard_arrow_right"></i></a>', responsive: [ { breakpoint: 768, settings: { slidesToShow: 3, slidesToScroll: 2, centerMode: true, centerPadding: '40px', } }, { breakpoint: 480, settings: { arrows: false, slidesToShow: 1, slidesToScroll: 1, centerMode: true, centerPadding: '40px', } } ] }).data({ 'init-slider': 1 }); } </script> </div> </div> <div class='social-toolbar fixed'> <ul> <li><a data-social='facebook'><i class='m-icon-facebook'></i></a></li> <li><a data-social='twitter'><i class='m-icon-x'></i></a></li> <li><a data-social='pinterest'><i class='m-icon-pinterest'></i></a></li> <li><a data-social='flipboard'><i class='m-icon-flipboard'></i></a></li> <li><a data-social='whatsapp'><i class='m-icon-whatsapp'></i></a></li> <li><a data-social='mail'><i class='m-icon-mail-envelope-closed'></i></a></li> <li><a data-social='print'><i class='m-icon-printer'></i></a></li> </ul> </div> <footer id="footer" class="no-print">  <div class="container-fluid"> <div class="row"> <div id="footer-main-menu" class="footer-menu col-sm-3 col-md-one5th"> <ul class="nav"> <li>Information</li> <li><a href="/artists">Artists</a></li> <li><a href="/art-auction">Auctions</a></li> <li><a href="/exhibitions">Exhibitions</a></li> <li><a href="/magazine">Magazine</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="footer-menu col-sm-3 col-md-one5th"> <ul class="nav"> <li>Services</li> <li><a href="/art-market-data">Market Analysis</a></li> <li><a href="/art-market-data#artist-performance">Artist Performance</a></li> <li><a href="/art-appraisal">Online Art Appraisal</a></li> <li><a href="/sell-artwork">Sell Your Art</a></li> <li><a href="/artworks-for-sale">Post-Auction Lots for Sale</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="footer-menu col-sm-3 col-md-one5th"> <ul class="nav"> <li>Products</li> <li><a href="/art-market-alerts">Market Alerts</a></li> <li><a href="/my-collection/plans">MyCollection</a></li> <li><a href="/price-database">Price Database</a></li> <li><a href="/galleries/become-partner">Become a Partner Gallery</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="footer-sub-menu col-sm-3 col-md-one5th"> <ul class="nav secondary"> <li><a class="footer-light-gray" href="/about-us">About Us</a></li> <li><a class="footer-light-gray" href="/contact-us">Contact Us</a></li> <li><a class="footer-light-gray" href="/faq">FAQ</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="footer-sub-menu col-sm-3 col-md-one5th"> <ul class="nav secondary"> <li><a class="footer-light-gray" href="/Static/TermOfUse">Terms of Use</a></li> <li><a class="footer-light-gray" href="/Static/PrivacyPolicy">Privacy Policy</a></li> <li><a class="footer-light-gray" href="/Static/violationForm" target="_blank">Copyright Concerns</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="footer-copy" class="row"> <div class="col-sm-12 margin-top-5"> <div id="soc-bottom" class="soc-bottom"> <a itemprop="sameAs" class="icon" target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/MutualArtGroup/"><i class='m-icon-facebook'></i></a> <a itemprop="sameAs" class="icon" target="_blank" href="https://www.instagram.com/mutualart/"><i class='m-icon-instagram'></i></a> <a itemprop="sameAs" class="icon" target="_blank" href="https://www.pinterest.co.uk/mutualart/"><i class='m-icon-pinterest'></i></a> <a itemprop="sameAs" class="icon" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/MutualArt"><i class='m-icon-x'></i></a> <a itemprop="sameAs" class="icon" target="_blank" href="http://www.linkedin.com/company/75858"><i class='m-icon-linkedin2'></i></a> <a itemprop="sameAs" class="icon" target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMQzc5v-VGArgnKNIlQYO1A"><i class='m-icon-youtube'></i></a> <a itemprop="sameAs" class="icon" target="_blank" href="https://flipboard.com/@MutualArt"><i class='m-icon-flipboard'></i></a> </div> <div class="get-the-app"> </div> <div class="footer-logo-container"> <span class="footer-logo"></span> <span id="footer-logo" class="footer-light-gray"> © 2024 MutualArt Services, Inc.</span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </footer> <div class="css-autocomplete"></div> <script onerror="OnScriptLoadError.apply(this, event)" crossorigin src="https://static.mutualart.com/bundles/js?v=WwnnTY-r4AUE9VEA9YYsYCp2rP8XQnsamCt27DQbe7A1?t=1732095583"></script> <script type="text/javascript" async="async" language="javascript" src="https://apis.google.com/js/client.js" gapi_processed="true"></script> <script> var facebokkAppId = '198347911566'; </script> <script src="https://accounts.google.com/gsi/client"></script> <div class="fb-wrap-tap"> <div class="fb-tap-bar"> <div><i class="m-icon-facebook2"></i> <span>Sign in to MutualArt.com</span></div> <button type="button" onclick="mafb.hideOneTap()" class="newclose invert" aria-label="Close"></button> </div> <div class="fb-tap-body"> <div data-onlogin="mafb.onOneTapSignin()" class="fb-login-button" data-width="" data-scope="public_profile,email" data-size="large" data-button-type="continue_with" data-layout="default" data-auto-logout-link="false" data-use-continue-as="true"></div> <span class="sign-up-message"> By signing up, you accept the <a href="https://www.mutualart.com/Static/TermOfUse?from=FacebookOneTap" target="_blank">Terms of Service</a> and confirm that you have read the <a href="https://www.mutualart.com/Static/PrivacyPolicy?from=FacebookOneTap" target="_blank">Privacy Policy</a>. </span> </div> </div> <script> if (window['Hotjur_record']) window['Hotjur_record'](); </script> <div id="cookie-consent" style="display:none;" class="cookie-consent display-none"> <div class="container"> Please note that this site uses cookies. For more information, see our <a target="_blank" href="/Static/PrivacyPolicy#cookies">Cookie Policy</a> </div> <button>×</button> </div> <script> var IsNewStripeAPI = false; var IsGeneralPayment = false; function initStripe(pgOverride) { window['upgOverride'] = pgOverride; if (window['_stripe']) return; window.paypalMode = 'live'; window.stripePK = 'pk_live_tVkn50dbzU4RP0mzDhLSHL5Z'; window._stripe = window['Stripe'] ? window['Stripe'](stripePK) : null; window.isPayPal = false; if (IsNewStripeAPI) { window.appearance = { theme: 'stripe', }; window.paymentElementOptions = { layout: "tabs", }; } else { window.elements = _stripe ? _stripe.elements() : null; // Custom styling can be passed to options when creating an Element. window.style = { base: { // Add your base input styles here. For example: color: '#32325d', lineHeight: '18px', fontFamily: '"Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif', fontSmoothing: 'antialiased', fontSize: '16px', '::placeholder': { color: '#aab7c4' } } }; // Create an instance of the card Element. if (_stripe) { window.card = elements.create('card', { style: window.style }); } } } </script> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

Jean-Jacques Henner