1932
Vallier 20a
Etching
Printed by Gallanis, Paris.
Published by Ambroise Vollard, Paris.
14 1/2 x 11 3/4 in. (36.8 x 29.8 cm)
$12,000
A very beautiful and extremely rare impression with the remarques for the original Vollard edition on Van Gelder Holland paper with full margins. Signed in pencil. Edition of 50.
In the early 1930s, the dealer Ambroise Vollard commissioned Georges Braque to illustrate a livre d'artiste (artist's book) based on a text of his choosing. In those years, Braque became profoundly interested in Greek mythology as he turned to more classical sources for inspiration. He chose a text on the birth and genealogy of the gods by the poet and theologian Hesiod (ca. 800 BC) . By 1932, Braque had engraved 20 plates for the book, which was expected to be published in 50 copies. But by the time of Vollard's death in 1939, Gallanis had printed only 16 plates. The project was not completed and the existing impressions were sold separately. Several years later, Braque and the dealer Aimé Maeght took up the project again. The remarques were removed from the plates and the complete series printed by Georges Visat was finally published in 1955.
Literature:
D. Vallier, 'Braque: l'oeuvre gravé, catalogue raisonné', Paris, 1982.
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