Black Forest Germany 1869 An Evening in the Village Antique Print After Bottcher

Description

Black Forest engraving dated 1869 depicts a lively village evening in Germany after a composition by Christian Eduard Böttcher. The French caption beneath the image reads “Une soirée dans la forêt noire”.

Villagers gather around a fountain at the centre of the scene. Women carrying wooden buckets stand beside children, a mounted rider and farm animals. Their traditional clothing and everyday gestures create an engaging portrayal of rural life.

The composition rewards close inspection. Children lean beside the water basin, a dog rests at the feet of the central group, and cattle and a goat occupy the foreground. Agricultural tools and wooden vessels add further detail to the gathering.

Beyond the figures, steep-roofed houses and a church tower lead the eye into a wooded landscape with rocky heights. The architecture and surrounding countryside provide an atmospheric setting for this scene of village sociability.

Fine engraved lines describe the folds of the costumes, the animals, foliage and buildings. The balance between the animated foreground and the landscape gives this nineteenth-century print considerable decorative appeal.

An attractive piece for collectors of Black Forest imagery, German rural traditions, historical costume and antique genre prints.

Details:
– Location represented: Black Forest Germany.
– Date of print: 1869.
– Composition: after Christian Eduard Böttcher.
– Technique: wood engraving.
– Caption: French.
– Sheet dimensions: 36.2 × 26 cm.
– Image dimensions: 34.7 × 23.1 cm.