Karel Dujardin’s etching, “Mule with a Bell”, 1653

Karel Dujardin (aka Carel Dujardin; Carel du Jardin; Karel Du Jardin; Bokkebaart) (1626 –78)

“Mule with a Bell” (aka “Le Mulet aux Clochettes”; “Muilezel met bel aan halster en twee liggende ezels”), 1653

Etching on laid paper with a narrow margin around the platemark.

Size: (sheet) 20.5 x 16.6 cm; (plate) 19.9 x 16.5 cm; (inner image borderline) 19.1 x 16.1 cm.

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left of centre) “K^.DV^. IARDI[N]^.1653 fe.”; (right corner) “29”.

State ii (of iii) with the addition of the plate number.

TIB 1.29 (Leonard J. Slatkes [ed.] 1978, “The Illustrated Bartsch: Netherlandish Artists”, vol. 1, New York, Abaris Books, p. 199, cat. no. 20); Hollstein Dutch 29-2(3)

The British Museum offers the following description of this print: “The hinny with the little bell. Landscape with a mule standing at centre, in profile to right, wearing a halter from which two bells hang, two other asses resting in right background, trees enclosed within a straw fence beyond; second state with number. 1653” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_Sheepshanks-878).

Condition: a richly inked early impression from the second state (based on the quality of line showing no sign of wear to the printing plate) with narrow margins around the plate mark in a museum-quality condition with no tears, holes, folds or significant stains.

I am selling this exceptionally fine and rich impression of a very beautiful etching—interestingly executed in the same year (1653) that Rembrandt executed his masterwork drypoint, “The Three Crosses”—for the total cost of AU$291 (currently US$191.26/EUR175.44/GBP150.23 at the time of posting this print) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world.

If you are interested in purchasing this remarkable print showcasing Dujardin’s skill in representing light, space and subtle differences of texture, 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