Nocturne ou Le Flirt. Night Scene or The Flirt by Manuel Robbe, 1872-1936

Manuel Robbe, 1872-1936
Scroll down for information.
Click here to return to the list.

Nocturne ou Le Flirt. Night Scene or The Flirt

Original aquatint printed in colours c.1908. Signed in pencil (within the image). Inscribed in pencil as: 2? état - 2nd state. A proof of the completed state but before the edition. Edition of c.100 impressions. Published by Galerie Sagot, Paris, c. 1908.
Ref: Merrill-Chase-Kirschen 63.

Excellent impression with very fresh tonally-balanced colours. On pale cream soft wove paper. Generally excellent condition; very slight traces of time soiling on the reverse, the lower left extreme tip of the outer sheet margin repaired. Print surface excellent. Wide margins. Sheet: 17 3/8?x20 5/8?. Plate: 13 5/8?x17 5/8? (348x446 mm).

This item is sold.
Click here to enquire about this item.

Nocturne, or Le Flirt is probably the most famous subject which Robbe drew in colour aquatint. It embodies all the qualities which make his prints such appealing works of art - an elegant slightly sensual theme, masterly compositon and a wonderful quality of softly modulated and blended colour.

Robbe was without doubt one of the greatest exponents of the art of the colour aquatint around the turn-of-the-century. He used the à la poupée method of inking the plate in which the inks are effectively painted onto the plate for each impression allowing them to blend and flow into each other. This creates a special quality of softly modulated and merging colour so that the light and the tone can vary from gleaming highlights of pure colour to soft shadows - white, turquoise and pink on the flowers in the background, lace white on the dress or the strong tones of the picture in the light of the window through to the greens, browns and greys of the shadows. As the ink colours are blended as they are applied to the plate so the effects vary from impression to impression. This example, which is a completed proof but before the issued edition, has very finely balanced tones.

Robbe first began to exhibit in the early 1890?s achieving medals at the Salons from the middle of the decade. From the first his work also received critical acclamation and by the late 1890?s his reputation was very widespread and he was sponsored by Edmond Sagot, one of the leading dealers of the period. Above all it was the combination of his eye for compositions which reflected the spirit of the era and his inspired handling of colour aquatint as a medium which were and have remained the vital elements of his art.