Charles François Daubigny’s etching, “Soleil Couchant”, 1859

Charles François Daubigny (1817–1878)

“Soleil Couchant” (Setting Sun/Sunset), 1859, after Daubigny’s painting exhibited in the Salon of 1859, printed by Auguste Delâtre (aka Auguste Marie Delâtre) (1822–1907) and published in Paris in the first year of the French art review, “Gazette des Beaux-Arts”, vol. II, no. 5, June 1, 1859, p. 295 (see Gallica BnF: https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k203066j/f300.image.r=295 & https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k203066j/f391.image.r=Daubigny).

This impression is from the 1859 edition featuring Delâtre as the printer and the plate was later re-printed in “L’Album de la Gazette des Beaux-Arts” in 1867 without Delâtre’s name. Interestingly, Michel Melot (1978) advises that the 1859 edition was between 750–1000 copies (see page 179).

Note that Daubigny explored the composition of this etching (and his painting that this etching translates into line) in the earlier print executed in etching and aquatint, “L'Ane à Abreuvoir” (The Donkey at the Watering Place), c1850 (see https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1911-1108-4).

Etching on chine-collé (China paper) on wove paper trimmed close to (or within) the platemark and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 18.1 x 25.5 cm; (chine collé) 14.9 x 20.5 cm; (image borderline) 11.5 x 18.7 cm.

Inscribed on plate below the image borderline: (left) Daubigny, 1859.”/ GAZETTE DES BEAUX-ARTS”; (centre) “Soleil couchant/ (Salon de 1859.)”; (right) “IMPR DELATRE PARIS”.

State ii (of v)

Melot D92 (Michel Melot 1978, “Graphic Art of the Pre-Impressionists”, New York, Harry N Abrams, p. 279, cat. no. D92); Delteil 92 (Loys Delteil 1906, “Le Peintre-Graveur Illustré [XIXe et XXe siècles]”, Paris);

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“Landscape with sparse trees lining river, figure with donkey, drinking at water, to right.”

(https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1862-1011-680).

See also the descriptions of this print offered by the Art of the Print and the Detroit Institute of Arts:

http://www.artoftheprint.com/artistpages/daubigny_charles_francois_soleilcouchant.htm;

https://www.dia.org/art/collection/object/soleil-couchant-42055.

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression trimmed close to (or along) the platemark and laid upon an archival support sheet of millennium quality washi paper. The sheet is in an excellent condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, stains, foxing or signs of handling.

I am selling this very beautiful etching capturing the effect of light sparkling through trees and river reflections by a leading artist of the Barbizon School, for AU$337 (currently US$254.97/EUR209.49/GBP289.31 at the time of 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 famous (or at least often reproduced) etching that not only exemplifies the spirit of the Etching Revival Period, but also heralds the advent of Impressionism through the treatment of the portrayed subject with tiny broken strokes, 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