Adolphe Appian’s etching, “Maris de la Burbanche (Ain)”, 1868

Adolphe Appian (1818–1898)

“Maris de la Burbanche (Ain)” (aka “Marsh of the Burbanche”), 1868, after Appian’s painting, “Temps Gris”, shown in the 1869 Paris Salon, initially published in “L'Illustration Nouvelle”, vol. 1, in 1868 (see https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b8527596n/f52.item). This impression was printed and published in Paris by Alfred Cadart (1828–1875)  for Philip Gilbert Hamerton’s (1834–1894) third edition of “Etching and Etchers”, 1880 (opp. p. 179).

In Hamerton’s 1876 edition of “Etching and Etchers”, Hamerton offers the following interesting insights about Appian’s prints: “…his [Appian’s] work is that each plate, however large or however small it may be, is conceived from the first as a whole, and the first conception is never departed from for the disproportionate realisation of some obtrusive detail.” Going further, “…Appian sees always in masses, and gives quite as much detail as is consistent with the preservation of the mass” (pp. 202–03).

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

Size: (sheet) 21.9 x 30.8 cm; (plate) 13.8 x 23.7 cm; (image borderline) 10.4 x 19.5 cm.

Inscribed in plate within the image borderline: (upper left corner) “APPIAN 1868”.

Numbered in plate above the image borderline: (right) “36.”

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “A.Appian sc.”; (centre) “MARIS DE LA BURBANCHE (AIN)”; (right) “V^ve A.Cadart.Edit.Imp.56.B^ard Haussmann.Paris.”

State iii (of iv) before the printing and publication details of Cadart are erased.

Curtis & Prouté 26 iii (Atherton Cutiis & Paul Prouté 1968, “Adolphe Appian son Oeuvre Gravé et Lithographié”, Paris, Paul Prouté, [n.p.] cat. no. 26 iii); Jennings 23 (Herbert H Jennings 1925, Adolphe Appian (essay) in “Print Collector’s Quarterly,” vol. 12, no. 1, p. 115, cat. no. 23 [see https://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/print_collectors_quarterly1925/0134/scroll]).

Condition: a richly inked, strong and near faultless impression with full margins (as published). The sheet is in an almost pristine condition with no tears, holes, folds, losses, abrasions, stains, foxing  or signs of handling.

I am selling this remarkably fine etching of marshlands before rain that to my eyes captures the melancholic mood and the heavy—almost oppressive—atmosphere that could almost be cut with a knife, for the total cost of AU$315 (currently US$231.52/EUR194.94/GBP166.49 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 superb etching executed by an artist with a strong personal vision and close connection with the Barbizon School, 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