French Original Etching Pencil Signed
A fine early etching by the well-known French artist Aimé Perret (1847-1927), this framed original print features a picturesque scene in the French countryside. It's annotated in the bottom left margin in pencil by the artist: "J.F. Millet assis devant sa maison Rue des artistes a Barbizon en 1870" which translates to "J.F. Millett seated in front of his artists street house in Barbizon in 1870." Jean-François Millet (1814-1875) was also a French artist, one of the founders of the Barbizon School of artists in the town of Barbizon in rural France. His works were an influence on those of Perret's. This etching by Perret was done when he was 23 and Millet was 56.
At the lower right of the etching, the artist pencil signed his name and above it "eau forte originale" (original etching). The framed size of the etching is 14 3/4 inches by 16 1/4 inches; the image size is 7 1/2 inches by 9 inches including the margins. The 1/2 inch wide wood frame is grooved and painted a dull gold on its face, with sides painted black. The artwork weighs 2 pounds 6 ounces. The print appears to be in excellent condition (we have not examined it out of the frame). The frame has many nicks and rubs in the paint; it dates from the 1920's-1930's, which may be the first time the etching was framed. The dust paper on the back is torn and there is an old hanging wire. The etching is surrounded by a wide single-cut linen mat with a line of gold around it.
Aimé Perret's oil paintings often sell for five figures or more at auctions and etchings by the artist are scarce. This etching is handsome, decorative and historical.
Notes on Aimé Perret: By 1869, Perret had studied at the École des Beaux-Arts and was exhibiting at the Paris Salon, where he won numerous awards. He was a founder of the Societe Nationale des Beaux-Arts. His works are in the permanent collections of many European art museums, as well as American ones such as The Harvard Art Museums and The J. Paul Getty Museum.
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