René Godard, “Eve Before Sin”, 1919

René Godard (aka René-Jules Godard) (1886–1955)

“Eve Before Sin”, 1919, this print was awarded first prize in the Prix de Rome de Gravure (the Rome Prize for Engraving), a prize that I understand was shared with Albert Decaris (1901–1988) who executed a work with the same title (see https://www.grandemasse.org/breves_historiques/grands-prix-de-rome-de-gravure-en-taille-douce/).  

For an interesting account about the Prix de Rome de Gravure, see, Jérôme Delaplanche’s (2020) article, “French Printmakers in Rome: The Case of the Villa Medici - French Academy” (published in Sarah Linford & Devin Kovach [Eds.] 2020, “Force Fields: Rome and Contemporary Printmaking”, Philadelphia, Temple University Press), in particular, see page 44, as Delaplanche explains the deliberations behind the prize at that time.

Engraving on tissue-thin (China) paper laid upon a support sheet of archival (millennium quality) washi paper, hand-signed in pencil by the artist with an inscribed dedication to Monsieur Padovani—possibly (and I may be far from correct) Aurelio Padovani (1889–1926) who was an early leader of the Italian Fascist movement and may have had an invested interest in the Academic leaning of the Rome Prize. I am also mindful that the artist may also have a leaning to the Fascist movement as he executed an engraved portrait of Benito Mussolini in 1925. Note also, from my understanding, proofs of the prints judged in the Roman Prize are presented to the Academy of Arts, consequently, the dedication may have been connected to this requirement.

Size: (sheet) 47.5 x 32.5 cm: (image borderline) 39.8 x 26.3 cm.

Inscribed in pencil below the image borderline: (right) “[à] monsieur Padovani./ [bien?] cordialement/ R. Godard.” (to Mr Padovani, best regards, R. Godard.)

Condition: a strong impression in a near pristine condition with no tears, folds or significant stains.

I am selling this large pencil-signed etching of the utmost rarity that must have been of great interest at the time when it was shown in the 1919  Prix de Rome de Gravure as it was the first time that a nude female was introduced into a competition that had been solely focused on Academic male nudes (see Delaplanche [2020], p. 44), for AU$313 in total (currently US$205.04/EUR188.85/GBP159.29 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$313) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in this spectacular engraving—to my eyes a masterwork of early twentieth century engraving executed shortly after WWI—please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.