Amédée Varin Fairy Illustrations
Amédée Varin (1818 – 1883 French)
This gallery is from the work of Amédée Varin, a french painter and engraver during the 1850s. These are a series of whimsical illustrations personifying butterflies, from a book titled ‘Les Papillons des Peuples de L’Air’ (The Butterflies, Terrestrial Metamorphoses of the People of the Air) (Published 1852). He came from a long family line of artist / engravers dating back to the 17th century. He worked with two younger brothers, but most of his engraving work was done in partnership with his older brother, Eugene. He also illustrated other content involving flowers and vegetables, all with the same imaginative whimsy. These engravings were produced using a combination of techniques – etching, mezzotint, aquatint, mechanical. The titles of his works also reflect the whimsical nature of the images and also a reflection of the times.
‘I saw a traveler sitting by the road’
‘She was swinging limply in the air’
Jumping and dancing was their most attractive occupation’
‘Vanilla flower receives farewell from her fiancé’
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