Eugène Juillerat’s lithograph, “Your Black Eagle of Which You Are So Proud Is Only a Common Vulture”, c1915

Eugène Juillerat (1856–early 1900s?)—“an award-winning lithographer and sculptor receiving medals at the Salons of 1895 and 1899 and at the Exposition Universelle in 1900.” Juillerat was a friend of John Singer Sargent (1856-1925) who painted his portrait in c1877–78. Interestingly, the two artists “were both the same age and both studied under Carolus-Duran [1837–1917] in Paris” (see John P Walsh’s blog: https://johnpwalshblog.com/2017/02/14/john-singer-sargent-the-early-portraits/).

“Your Black Eagle of Which You Are So Proud Is Only a Common Vulture” (title is a translation of the dedication inscription), c1915, lithograph printed in black ink on tissue-thin (transparent vellum) paper backed with a support sheet, inscribed with a satirical handwritten pencil dedication by the artist to Kaiser Wilhelm II (“Dédié à Empereur Guillaume II”): “Ton aigle noir dont tu es si fier n'est en somme qu'un vulgaire vautour” and numbered “2” in an edition of either 10 or 20 impressions— the edition number appears to be altered and is ambiguous.

Size: (sheet) 43 x 28.4 cm; (trace of printing stone) 36.7 x 27.5 cm; (image borderline) 32.8 x 24 cm.

Hand-inscribed with pencil below the image borderline: (left) “Dédié à Empereur Guillaume II Guillaume/ ‘Ton aigle noir dont tu es si fier n'est/ en somme qu'un vulgaire vautour;’/ 1914–1915.”; (right) [monogram signature of the artist]/ ‘2/10 [or 2/20?]’”.

Condition: a strong impression with small margins laid onto a sheet of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. The sheet is in a near pristine (museum quality) condition with no tears, abrasions, significant stains or foxing.

I am selling this amazing “tongue-in-cheek” (satirical) lithograph dedicated to Kaiser Wilhelm II proposing that the symbolic eagle of Germany during World War I was actually not an eagle at all but just a common vulture inhabiting the rubble of culture (my interpretation of the projected meaning which may be incorrect), for AU$304 in total (currently US$216.59/EUR191.63/GBP159.72 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 ultra rare lithograph of immense graphic power, 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