Marcellin Gilbert DESBOUTIN (1823 - 1902): Alfred Cadart, Founder of the Société des Aquafortistes - 1875

Price: 450 €

Drypoint, 160 x 120 mm. IFF p. 328, Clément-Janin 29.

Impression of the 1st state (of 2) before any letters. Clément-Janin describes only one state, probably the 1st, as no letter is mentioned. The IFF mentions an impression of the 1st state and one of the 2nd  without specifying. Both are digitized: the 1st state impression is before the letter, while the 2nd state impression bears Desboutin's signature, the title M. Alfred Cadart, Fondateur de la société des Aquafortistes and the address of the publisher and printer: V^ve A. Cadart, Edit, Imp. 56 B^d Haussmann, Paris, the stamp in red ink 1881 corresponding to the year of legal deposit at the Bibliothèque nationale, suggesting that this edition dates from 1881 and not 1875 as the impressions of 1st state. 1875 is the year of Alfred Cadart's death, which explains why the publisher of the final state with the letter is his widow.

Superb impression with drypoint barbs, printed on laid paper. Very good condition. Full uncut margins (362 x 252 mm).

Alfred Cadart played a fundamental role in the revival of etching in France in the mid-19th century. In 1862, he founded the Société des Aquafortistes with Félix Chevalier, then in 1863 the Cadart et Luquet company with Jules Luquet, and set up shop at 79, rue de Richelieu, under the Aux Arts modernes sign. The shop sold artworks and fine art equipment, but was also a meeting place, as the building housed a studio where Cadart et Luquet invited artists to try their hand at etching.