Karel Dujardin, “Two Horses”, 1652 (2nd copy)

Karel Dujardin (aka Carel Dujardin; Carel du Jardin; Karel du Jardin; Bokkebaart) (1626 –1678)

“Two Horses” (TIB title) (aka “Les Deux Chevaux”), 1652.

Etching on fine laid paper trimmed with a small margin around the platemark and backed with a support sheet providing wide margins.

Size: (sheet) 18.1 x 15.5cm; (plate) 15.4 x 14cm; (image borderline) 15 x 13.5cm.

Inscribed within the image: (upper left) "K. D. I. fe"; (lower right corner) “4”.

State iii (of iii) with the addition of the plate number (“4”).

TIB 1.4 (Leonard J. Slatkes [ed.] 1978, “The Illustrated Bartsch: Netherlandish Artists”, vol. 1, New York, Abaris Books, p. 174, cat. no. 4-II); Hollstein 4.

The British Museum offers the following description of this print: “Two old horses, one lying on the ground and seen from the rear, the other standing on lower ground in three quarter view, a house amidst trees in right background” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_Sheepshanks-818 [inv. Sheepshanks.818]).

See also the descriptions of this print offered by the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Rijksmuseum: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/399291; https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/200127254.

Interestingly, Charles Meryon (1821–1868) executed a copy of this print in the reverse direction; see: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1865-0114-121 (inv. 1865,0114.121).

Condition. A strong impression with small margins around the platemark and laid upon an archival support sheet of millennium quality washi paper providing wide margins. The sheet is in a good condition with no tears, holes, folds or significant stains—note that there may (or may not) be a minor abrasion in the sky above the horses.

I am selling this superb etching of horses—note how the artist is able to portray very convincingly with a minimal number of marks, not only the surface texture/hair of the horses, but also the intricacies of the horses’ musculature and the critical points where bones come close to the skin— for AU $292 in total (currently US $181.64/ EUR 174.24/ GBP 144.44 at the time of posting this print) including Express Mail (EMS) postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries. Note that payment is in Australian dollars (AU $292) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in purchasing this marvellous study of horses by one of the great draughtsmen of the 1600s—note that the 20^th century master, Walter Sickert, is cited as extolling Dujardin’s skill as a draughtsman  (see https://archive.artic.edu/b-encounters/artwork/23686)—please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.