Georges Rouault

Christ au Faubourg from André Suarez's Passion Chapon & Rouault 258a aquatint, 1935, on heavy cream-coloured wove paper, a superb working proof impression of an early (first?) state of the key plate (not described by Chapon & Rouault), before extensive additional rework (aquatint, burnishing, and etching), printed by Lacourière in rich blue ink, before the plates were reduced* S. 325x224mm. Chemineau from André Suarez's Passion Chapon & Rouault 259a aquatint, 1935, on heavy cream-coloured wove paper, a superb working proof impression of an early (first?) state of the key plate (not described by Chapon & Rouault), before extensive additional rework (aquatint, burnishing, and etching), printed by Lacourière in rich blue ink, before the plates were reduced* S. 325x223mm. Christ et Pauvres from André Suarez's Passion Chapon & Rouault 262a aquatint, 1935, on heavy cream-coloured wove paper, a superb working proof impression of an early (first?) state of the key plate (not described by Chapon & Rouault), before extensive additional rework (aquatint, burnishing, and etching), printed by Lacourière in rich blue ink, before the plates were reduced* S. 325x235mm

Provenance: acquired directly by the collector from the printer's workshop

These three remarkable proof impressions from Passion evidence the artist's exacting approach to the realization of his first work in colour devoted to religious themes.

The printing in blue, apparently to appreciate better the rich tonal values of the composition, is quite unique (we have seen only a few other examples of these fine prints). As such, these prints constitute an important document with regard to Rouault's working technique, and fully reveal the artist's forceful use of line and mass, painting as it were directly on the copper plate with acid wash over a variety of fine textures.

* We have been able to examine impressions of the final states of the key plates, cut to the dimensions of the image, where the clearly bevelled platemarks measure approximately 300x210mm (see the Loudmer sale, Drouot, 13/12/1994, n° 394).