Au Square
Au Square
Au Square
Blindstamp lower right in margin

Artist: Henri Jacques Édouard Evenepoël (Belgian, 1872-1899)

Title: Au Square

Plate: em25

Description: Condition A+

Original Lithograph,
issued by L'Estampe Moderne
Issue Number 7, Nov. 1897.
Printed by F. Champenois, Paris.
Blindstamp lower right in margin.
Signed in the stone upper left.

Presented in 16 x 20 in. acid free, archival museum mat, with framing labels. Ready to frame. Shipped boxed flat.
Certificate of Authenticity.
See our Terms of Sale

 

Sheet Size: 12 in x 16 in 30.5 cm x 40.5 cm

Price: $1850.00

 

'Au Square' must be counted amongst the great images of the history of the colour lithograph of the 'Nabis' era in France. At the same time it is the only major colour lithograph by Evenpoel. In a single work he achieved a perfect balance between the expressive distortion of form and an evocative highly decorative use of colour which was the aim of that group of artists who had all been influenced by the ideas of Gauguin and of symbolism into a reaction to the 'pure visual sensation' of Impressionism. (Weston)

"Evenepoel was a rising star in the art world when his life was tragically cut short at the age of 27. He designed his best print for L'Estampe Moderne, a five-color lithograph whose subject matter is close to the work of Bonnard, and whose sketch and coloring is reminiscent of Lautrec. The final result is very personal, with delicate and vivid lines in a masterly-composed vision. It is one of the most desirable plates in the entire series." (Color Revolution p. 27, no, 20.)
 

Henri-Jacques Evenepoel was born in Belgium by moved to Paris around 1890. He had inspiration and talent enough to be one of the great artists of his generation but his tragic death in 1899 at the age of 27 prevented him from achieving full maturity. After the early influence of Manet and of Impressionism he met Lautrec in 1892. Introduced to the artists of the Nabis circle - Bonnard, Vuillard and Denis for example - he adopted their treatment of pictorial composition and their use of form and colour to create an emotional rather than a visual impression. (Weston)

Not unlike the Maitres de L'Affiche series, L'Estampe Moderne was a portfolio printed between 1897-98, published by Imprimerie Champenois, Paris, contained 24 monthly portfolios, with four original lithographs in each. Each commissioned only for this series. Some of the contributing artists included Mucha, Rhead, Meunier, Ibels, Steinlen, Willette and Grasset.