Artists

The distinct expressionism of French artist Georges Rouault is vividly illustrated in the artist's oeuvre of graphic works. Characterized by strong black outlines and rich printing surfaces, the engravings of Rouault express the artist's personal passions, his religious convictions, and his feelings about certain human injustices. Concentrating on human figures, both faces and full length views, Rouault's images incorporate a wide range of characters including: Christ and Satan; prostitutes and mothers; fleshy nudes and skeletons; and others. In his print work, Rouault is known for his heavily worked plates which he achieves by forcefully utilizing all manner of intaglio printmaking processes.

The Passion series was one of Rouault's most important suites, its religious themes rendered with great pathos by his trademark use of heavy outline, combined with formally strong tonal fields.