Paul Rajon’s etching, “Bracquemond (en 1868)”, c.1873

Paul Rajon (aka Paul Adolphe Rajon) (1843–1888)

“Bracquemond (en 1868)”—portrait of one of the most influential artists of the Etching Revival, Félix Henri Bracquemond (1833–1914), c.1873 (pub.1897), printed by Alfred Porcabeuf (aka Alfred Louis Porcabeuf) (fl.1895–1946?) and published in Paris in the art periodical “L’Artiste” in 1897, inserted following page 424; see https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k4860974/f449.double.

Note that Mutual Art Auctions showcase the etching plate for this print: https://www.mutualart.com/Artwork/Bracquemond-en-1868/A3760F0E9F9BCC25F86EC71700ABF9B8.

Etching on fine buff coloured wove paper trimmed close to the platemark and backed with a support sheet providing wide margins.

Size: (sheet) 22 x 16.4 cm; (plate) 21.3 x 16.1 cm.

Lettered below the image: (left) “L’Artiste”; (centre) “BRACQUEMOND/ (en 1868)”; (right) “Rajon Sc[p?]/ Imp Porcabeuf”.
Beraldi 148 (Henri Beraldi 1891, “Les Graveurs du XIXe Siècke; guide de l'amateur d'estampes modernes”, vol. 11, Paris, L Conquet, p. 163, cat. no. 148).

Henri Beraldi (1891) (in transl.) advises that Bracquemond had a “[s]haggy and exaggeratedly bearded face … for a while!”, but, interestingly, it was “quickly renounced” (p. 163).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print: “Portrait of Félix Bracquemond, bust-length, slightly turned to the left and looking towards the viewer, with dishevelled hair and bushy beard; finished state? c.1873 Etching, printed on thin paper” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1923-0714-214).

Condition: a richly inked (near faultless) impression trimmed around the platemark and laid onto a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper providing wide margins. The sheet is in a pristine condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, stains or foxing.

I am selling this remarkable portrait of one of the most famous and influential printmakers of nineteenth century France, for AU$241 (currently US$161.08/EUR145.75/GBP128.30 at the time of posting this listing) including Express Mail 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 amazing portrait—note in particular how Bracquemond’s right eye (the eye on the left side of this image) seems to be analytically probing while his left eye is more relaxed and “abstracted”—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