Au Bal. At the Dance Hall. by Louis Legrand, 1863-1951

Louis Legrand, 1863-1951
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Au Bal. At the Dance Hall.

Original etching with aquatint and drypoint in brownish ink. 1911. Signed in pencil. Numbered (1) in pencil from the edition of 70 - the first impression in the edition. Published by Gustave Pellet, Paris 1911.
Ref: Exteens - Legrand no 317. Bibliothèque Nationale Inventory no 190

Excellent richly tonal impression. On pale cream laid paper with the 'Pellet-Legrand' watermark. Generally excellent condition; the very slightest trace of discolouration on the reverse of the sheet only. With small 1/4 - 1/2inch margins; the pencil signature just cut close at the bottom (first loop of the 'l'). Sheet: 12 x 16 5/8ins. Plate: 11
1/4 x 16 1/8ins (286x408mm)

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Few artist's if any were better able to capture the decadent atmosphere of Paris in the years leading up to the First World War than Louis Legrand He had an ability with line and a sense of composition with which he was able to express the atmosphere of the bars and restaurants, of the street characters and the society revellers, with a brilliant insight and a constant underlying wit.

This study, 'Au Bal' of the girls waiting for their partners at the side of the floor of a 'Palais de Danse', is very characteristic not only of his eye for the whole debauched atmosphere of the era but also of his inspired use of aqautint as a printmaking medium. The pattern of tones created by the varied biting of the washes, the way that the suggested background of the dance hall and the figures on the balcony, as well as the bold back view of the woman in the foreground, are used to focus attention on the brilliant captured expressions and poses of the bored 'dance hostesses' is an outstanding example of Legrand's special and personal inspiration.

Legrand sold most of his prints through the dealer Pellet, in fact it was Pellet who had given him his first exhibition after the public success of his studies of the Can Can in 1892. Although his sets of prints for Pellet are well known - Les Bars, Les Petites du Ballet etc. - some of the single compositions are now very scarce indeed, even if nominally issued in editions. This is the first impression of 'Au Bal' that we have seen for a great number of years.