Camille
Pissarro

Pissarro, Paysans pourtant du Foin, drypoint

Paysans portant du Foin

Delteil 126, Leymarie 127

drypoint engraving (before the additional etched detail of later states), 1900, on medium-weight antique beige laid paper, a superb working proof impression of the extremely rare 1st state (of seven?)*, with undulations in the image due to printing, an insignificant filiform printing flaw in the background between the two figures, several minuscule white-aureoled spots (ink solvent residue?) and inky fingerprints in the wide margins, a deckle edge below, traces of old tape hinges on the reverse, slight overall time-staining, otherwise in excellent condition

 

P. 119x81mm., S. 221x147mm.

Provenance: a private Parisian collection

This was Pissarro's last etching (he was 70 years old!), and his keen interest in capturing the "impressionistic" moment of the everyday activities in the Eragny countryside is moving testimony to the artist's constant vision.

The present impression was manifestly hand-printed by Pissarro himself to moniter progress of the print; such working proofs are exceedingly rare, and Delteil cites only one or two impressions of this state.

* Delteil notes 7 states and Leymarie 8, without justifying the difference.