Carole Branagan’s Raccoon is a delicate and finely detailed etching that captures a quiet, intimate moment in nature. The circular composition draws the viewer’s eye to a solitary raccoon crouched at the edge of a marsh, its reflection shimmering faintly in the still water. The surrounding reeds and cattails rise rhythmically around the animal, framing the scene with a sense of both shelter and wildness. Branagan’s sensitive use of line and tonal etching techniques reveals her printmaker’s precision—every strand of fur, ripple of water, and blade of grass is rendered with quiet care.
The sepia-brown ink lends the print a warm, earthy character reminiscent of 19th-century naturalist studies, yet the style is distinctly mid-20th century in its restraint and composition. Through her mastery of the etching needle, Branagan transforms a familiar woodland creature into a subject of contemplation, suggesting the harmony and fragility of life at the water’s edge.
About the Artist: Carole Branagan (American, 20th Century)
Carole Branagan is an American printmaker and illustrator known for her finely detailed etchings of wildlife and rural scenes, produced primarily during the 1970s and 1980s. Working in limited editions, often fewer than 100 impressions, Branagan employed traditional intaglio techniques to achieve her characteristic combination of line precision and tonal softness. Her works reflect a deep appreciation for the natural world, focusing on animals in their quiet, undisturbed habitats—subjects such as raccoons, owls, herons, and woodland flora.
Branagan’s etchings were widely distributed through American art galleries and nature print dealers during the late 20th century and continue to appear in collections of fine print enthusiasts. Her work embodies the period’s revival of hand-pulled printmaking, when artists sought to reconnect craftsmanship and environmental reverence in contrast to mass-produced art prints.
Medium: Etching (Intaglio)
Edition: 4/100 Signature: Pencil-signed “C. Branagan” lower right
Era: Circa 1970s
11w x 15h
Beautifully produced ETCHING with deep color. BRANAGAN'S work is full of depth, and first hand knowledge of her subjects with a thorough researching of their habitats. Branangan's works are on display in major galleries throughout the United States and Canada. The prestigious Newark Museum has one of her pieces in its permanent collections.
Carole Branagan’s Raccoon is a delicate and finely detailed etching that captures a quiet, intimate moment in nature. The circular composition draws the viewer’s eye to a solitary raccoon crouched at the edge of a marsh, its reflection shimmering faintly in the still water. The surrounding reeds and cattails rise rhythmically around the animal, framing the scene with a sense of both shelter and wildness. Branagan’s sensitive use of line and tonal etching techniques reveals her printmaker’s precision—every strand of fur, ripple of water, and blade of grass is rendered with quiet care.
The sepia-brown ink lends the print a warm, earthy character reminiscent of 19th-century naturalist studies, yet the style is distinctly mid-20th century in its restraint and composition. Through her mastery of the etching needle, Branagan transforms a familiar woodland creature into a subject of contemplation, suggesting the harmony and fragility of life at the water’s edge.
About the Artist: Carole Branagan (American, 20th Century)
Carole Branagan is an American printmaker and illustrator known for her finely detailed etchings of wildlife and rural scenes, produced primarily during the 1970s and 1980s. Working in limited editions, often fewer than 100 impressions, Branagan employed traditional intaglio techniques to achieve her characteristic combination of line precision and tonal softness. Her works reflect a deep appreciation for the natural world, focusing on animals in their quiet, undisturbed habitats—subjects such as raccoons, owls, herons, and woodland flora.
Branagan’s etchings were widely distributed through American art galleries and nature print dealers during the late 20th century and continue to appear in collections of fine print enthusiasts. Her work embodies the period’s revival of hand-pulled printmaking, when artists sought to reconnect craftsmanship and environmental reverence in contrast to mass-produced art prints.
Medium: Etching (Intaglio)
Edition: 4/100 Signature: Pencil-signed “C. Branagan” lower right
Era: Circa 1970s
11w x 15h
Beautifully produced ETCHING with deep color. BRANAGAN'S work is full of depth, and first hand knowledge of her subjects with a thorough researching of their habitats. Branangan's works are on display in major galleries throughout the United States and Canada. The prestigious Newark Museum has one of her pieces in its permanent collections.
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