Albert Aviat’s etching, “Alfalfa Harvest in Algeria”, (c1900)

Albert Aviat (1800s–1900s)—a French artist that has been largely forgotten, but there is a reference to him in the “Benezit Dictionary of Artists” that he was “a pupil of Lalauze [1838–1906] and Jules-Charles Aviat [1844–1931]” and that he “exhibited two etchings at the 1905 Salon” (https://doi.org/10.1093/benz/9780199773787.article.B00009078). Interestingly, the artist had a very beautiful wife who Jules-Charles Aviat captured in the portrait: “Portrait of Alice Aviat, the Wife of Albert Aviat” (1885–1915) (see https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aviat_-_Portrait_d%27Alice_Aviat,_l%27%C3%A9pouse_d%27Albert_Aviat.jpg).

“Alfalfa Harvest in Algeria” (aka “Recolte de l'Alfalfa Algérie” [as inscribed in pencil along the lower edge at left) (see the following article regarding the growing of alfalfa/lucerne and in Algeria: https://la-luzerne-en-algerie.blog4ever.com/articles), c1900, a pencil-signed impression, also signed in the plate with a pencil inscription along the lower edge at left showing the title.

Etching with plate tone (or possibly aquatint) on fine laid paper printed in umber coloured ink, signed in the plate and signed in pencil at lower right with a hand-written inscription at lower left (possibly the title) and at lower right verso (illegible).

Size: (sheet) 28 x 38.8 cm; (plate) 15.5 x 19.8 cm; (image borderline) 12.7 x 17.7 cm.

Condition: a strong and near faultless impression, pencil signed, with generously wide margins. The sheet has marks in the outer edges, pencil annotations and there is a tear (1 cm) on the left edge, otherwise the sheet is in a very good condition.

I am selling this subtly beautiful etching showing soft light falling on workers in Algeria who are harvesting a field of what I understand that North Americans call “alfalfa”, but what Australians (and possibly the rest of the world) call “lucerne”, for the total cost of AU$214 (currently/approximately US$144.28/EUR131.84/GBP110.84 at the time of posting this listing) including Express Mail (EMS) postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries. Note that payment is in Australian dollars (AU$214) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in purchasing this curiously interesting etching with a touch of Orientalist flavour by an artist that the Gate-Keepers of History have forgotten, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.