Albert Besnard's etching, “Tristesse”, 1887

Albert Besnard (aka Paul Albert Besnard) (1849–1934)

“Tristesse” (Sadness), 1887, published in the July 1887 edition of the “Gazette des Beaux-Arts” to complement d'Alfred de Lostalot’s discussion, “Exposition Internationale de Peinture et de la Sculpture” (International Exposition of Painting and Sculpture).

Etching with plate tone on cream laid paper and full margins as published

Size: (sheet) 28 x 20 cm; (plate) 15 x 9.7 cm

Inscribed at lower left with the artist’s monogram (almost indecipherable as it is so small): “AB”

Lettered at upper left: “GAZETTE DES BEAUX-ARTS”

State iii (of iii)

Delteil 61.iii (Loys Delteil 1906, “Louis Godefroy Albert Besnard”, vol. 30 of “Le Peintre-Graveur”, Paris, cat. no. 61.iii, np); Coppier 54.iii (André-Charles Coppier 1920, “Les eaux-fortes de Besnard’ Paris, 1920, cat. no. 54.iii, p. 43); Bibliothèque-Nationale 21 (IFF Inventaire du Fonds Français: Bibliothèque Nationale, Départment des Estampes. Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris, 1930-, cat. no. 21, p.341).

The Fine Art Museums of San Francisco offer the following description of this print:

“Upper torso and head of a pensive woman looking out a window” (https://art.famsf.org/albert-besnard/tristesse-sadness-gazette-des-beaux-arts-2008211)

See also the descriptions of this print at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/688529)

and at the Cleveland Museum of Art

(http://www.clevelandart.org/art/2016.107).

Condition: richly inked and faultless impression in pristine condition (i.e. there are no tears, holes, folds, stains, abrasions or foxing) with full margins as published.

(Note: this is the second impression of this print that I have listed. The previous impression has been sold.)

I am selling this remarkably soulful etching that (to my eyes) foreshadows the prints of the legendary Käthe Kollwitz (1867–1945) for the total cost of AU$338 (currently US$228.32/EUR208.05/GBP185.03 at the time of posting this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world (but not, of course, any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries).

If you are interested in purchasing this very beautiful etching showing the artist’s skill in creating a believable transition of focal clarity leading to the lady’s face and hands, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.