Délassement - Relaxation. by Louis Legrand, 1863-1951

Louis Legrand, 1863-1951
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Délassement - Relaxation.

Original etching with drypoint and aquatint printed in colours. 1901. Signed in pencil. Very rare separate hand-printed proof before the edition issued for the series: La Faune Parisienne. (The published edition was issued unsigned and in reduced format in an edition of 130 impressions). Published by Pellet, Paris 1901.
Colours: red, pink, turquoise, ochre, grey and black.
Ref: Exteens - Legrand no 171. Bibliothèque National no 95

Superb impression with sparkling jewel-like colour. On pale cream japan paper. Generally excellent condition; the very slightest trace of old glue on the reverse of the sheet edges. Print surface excellent. Sheet: 14 ¾ x 12 ins. Plate: 7 3/8 x 5 1/4ins (188x132mm)

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A really beautiful example of the delicacy and subtlety of Legrand's work in colour etching on his favourite theme of ballet dancers. The line is handled with extraordinary sensitivity in the bite giving movement to the contour and the inking of the colours is beautifully controlled - a soft pink on the arms and face, red lips and ribbon and a suggestion of red in the hair, turquoise blue detail to the dress and on the sash, touches of ochre yellow on her ballet shoes, and grey to enhance the modelling of the figure.

Legrand was an extremely gifted printmaker and instrumental in the revival of the art of colour-etching which took place around the turn-of-the-century. Works like this which are printed in colours for which each ink is separately brushed onto the plate show his gifts at their finest.

Legrand made his reputation with a series of colour prints inspired by the dance of the Can- Can (Cours de Dance Fin de Siècle), and dance - especially the backstage world of the ballet - remained one of the passions of his life. Alongside his café and street scenes many of his finest works are studies of dancers resting, preparing to go on stage or in ballet school.