The truthfulness which this popular and most skilful French artist imparts to his subjects is almost the surest passport to the acceptability of his pictures: people unable to appreciate the wonderful finesse of his execution are charmed by his grasp of the natural in his conception of the human figure, and his complete freedom from anything approaching to ideal conventionalism. But Meissonier’s naturalism never descends to vulgarity, scarcely even to commonplace: his impersonations of ordinary life are characterized by a sense of elegance in unison with the painter’s refinement of mind. How indicative of this quality is his conception of ‘The Smoker!’  Seated “corner-wise” on an old-fashioned chair, he quietly smokes his pipe, the narcotic influence of which is seen in his countenance, so thoroughly significant is it of repose - yet expressing that kind of mental activity whose cogitations are of nothing special, though possibly wandering over a variety of subjects. The attitude of the man is in perfect: keeping with his apparent absence of consciousness: the fingers of his left hand are thrust carelessly into his breeches-pocket; one foot is pushed forward and is turned on its side, while the other is forced back and rests against the bar of the chair. The foreshortening of this right leg shows very clever drawing, as the whole design suggests the idea of one, who, for the present at least, is at peace with himself and all the world. The nonchalant, easy indifference of this Parisian of the last century is inimitable, and is by no means the least meritorious quality of the picture.

This item is a steel engraving of the etching by J.L. Meissonier called “THE SMOKER.”  It was engraved by the artist and published in 1877.  The engraving is in very good condition.  The engraving measures 5 ½” x 3 7/8”, and is matted to 11” x 14” for easy framing.