Roderic O'Conor (1860-1940), Le Verger / The Orchard (1893)

Roderic O'Conor is perhaps Ireland's most celebrated and highy regarded impressionist artist. Best known as a painter, he was also a masterful and accomplished draughtsman. His works feature in many major collections worldwide, including the National Gallery of Ireland, The Musée D'Orsay, The Hugh Lane Gallery and Tate Britain.

O'Conor was born in Co Roscommon and studied in Dublin at the Metropolitan School of Art and Royal Hibernian Academy in Dublin.  O'Conor spent much of his life in France.

In 1889, after a decade of rigorous academic training, O’Conor became increasingly influenced by the avant-garde movement and exhibited several times at the Salon des Indépendents. He soon began venturing to Brittany, where he was inspired by the artistic communities, developing close friendships with Paul Gauguin, Emile Bernard, and Armand Séguin. 

Under the mentorship of Armand Séguin, O'Conor produced a number of etchings, some enhanced with drypoint. They are testament to O’Conor’s natural ability with the etching needle. 

Labelled as Le verger (The Orchard) this image captures the movement, light and shadow as well as natural forms of trees and skies of this orchard in Brittany. 

This plate was made by O'Conor in 1893, but the actual print was made as a limited edition (of 100, un-numbered) in 1981, after which the plate was destroyed. During his own lifetime, only a small number of 'proofs' were ever produced, so when the plates were discovered some years after his death, these etchings were produced under stringent conditions by Studio Paul Prouté in Paris.

Etching on cream wove paper.  Image dimensions: 33 x 25.5.5cm. Newly framed with non-reflective UV resistant glass and acid-free mount. Provenance: Paul Prouté, Gravures et Dessins, Rue de Seine and Rue Clément, Paris. (Private collection, France)

Artworks are on display in our Clare Street shop. If purchased online, worldwide shipping can be arranged.