Prints and Principles

Most of the recent posts give details about individual prints and earlier posts discuss some of the subtle principles guiding artists in making images meaningful and memorable. For prints that are unsold, click "Items still available for sale" below. All other prints are no longer available. My contact email is oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com and my Instagram username is @printsandprinciples. I have created a separate blog to show my own work: https://printsandprinciplesjamesbrown.blogspot.com

Friday, 24 January 2025

Charles Courtry, “Landscape with Two Cows and a Calf”, 1875, after Emile van Marcke de Lummen

Charles Courtry (aka Charles Jean Louis Courtry) (1846–1897)

“Landscape with Two Cows and a Calf”, 1875, a proof-state impression before the completion of the tonal rendering (see https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1881-1112-141) and lettering for publication by Goupil (fl.1827–1919), signed in pencil by Charles Courtry after Emile van Marcke de Lummen’s (1827–1890) painting.

Note that the British Museum proposes the title, “Le Gué de Mouthiers” [The Mouthiers Ford]) (see inv. no. 1881,1112.141) following Henri Béraldi’s (1889) title of catalogue number 28 (vol. 5, p. 63), but Jean Adhémar (1949) (see IFF, number 101, vol. 5, p. 283) advises that the date of the print is 1880. This date of 1880 is different to the date, “[18]75”, inscribed in the plate. Consequently, this title may refer to a different print.

Etching with plate tone on laid paper, pencil-signed, proof-state impression with wide margins.

Size: (sheet) 44.4 x 58.9 cm; (platemark) 35.6 x 47.9 cm; (image borderline) 28.4 x 40.1 cm.

Inscribed (scratch lettering) in plate below the image borderline: (left) “EM. VAN MARCKE PINX”; (right) “CH. COURTRY SC 75” Impression signed by Courtry, in pencil.

Pencil signed by Charles Courtry at lower right.

Beraldi 28(?) (Henri Béraldi 1889, “Les Graveurs du XIXe Siècle: Guide de l'Amateur d'Estampes Modernes: CHERRIER–DIEN”, vol. 5, Paris, Librairie L. Conquet, p. 63, cat. no. 28; see https://archive.org/details/lesgraveursdu19e05berauoft/page/62/mode/2up): IFF 110 (?) (Jean Adhémar 1949, “Inventaire du Fonds Français après 1800: CIDOINE–DAUMIER”, Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Département des Estampes, vol. 5, p. 283, cat. no. 110 [see https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k5488526m/f295.image]).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print (from a later state): “Landscape with two cows and a calf in the foreground, beyond a country woman opening a gate (?) and in the background, on the opposite bank of a stream, more cows, after Van Marcke; proof before letter, signed by printmaker. 1875 Etching” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1881-1112-141).

Condition: a strong and well-printed (near faultless) impression in an excellent condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions or significant stains.

I am selling this exceptionally rare, pencil-signed proof-state etching—for the total cost of AU $310 (currently US $195.72/ EUR 186.52/ GBP 156.76 at the time of posting this listing) 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 $310) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in purchasing this huge and dazzlingly luminous proof-state etching before it was completely re-etched with the final state of tonal rendering, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This print has been sold