Entre les Deux Mon Coeur Balance. How Happy I Could be with Either.. by James J. J. Tissot, 1836-1902

James J. J. Tissot, 1836-1902
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Entre les Deux Mon Coeur Balance. How Happy I Could be with Either..

Original etching with drypoint in black ink. 1877. Signed in pencil. Signed with the artist's red monogram stamp. Also signed and dated in the plate. From the rare first edition of c.100 impressions printed at Goulding's studio in London 1877. There was a second edition of c.100 printed at Delātre's studio in Paris in 1882/83.
Ref: Wentworth - Tissot Prints no 30. Tissot's catalogue 26

Extremely fine first issue impression with strong tonal contrasts and burr on the drypoint. On light pale cream laid hollande paper of the Blauw type. Absolutely excellent condition. With margins. Sheet: 13 3/4 x 18 1/2ins. Plate: 9 3/4 x 13 3/4ins. (248x350mm)

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This etching continues the theme of 'Sur la Tamise - On the Thames' of the previous year, in which a man is seen on a boat outing with two women. 'Sur la Tamise' had caused a furore when it was first exhibited with its 'questionable material' (The Times newspaper). It was described as 'thoroughly and wilfully vulgar' by the Spectator, and even the racier Graphic called it 'hardly nice in its suggestions - more French, shall we say, than English' (!). 'How Happy I could be with Either', above, was seen as more acceptable because it was given a more military narrative atmosphere. The etching was drawn in the same year as the painting, which was given the title ,'Portsmouth Dockyard' by Tissot to obscure the theme. The painting is now in the Tate Gallery, London.

It is typical of Tissot's art that he wanted to create not merely narrative compositions in the accepted Victorian style, but works in which the social and even moral commentary was of prime importance.

'Entre les Deux' also shows Tissot's brilliance as an etcher at its finest in the richness of the detailing and in the contrasts of textures and surfaces. These can only be appreciated to the full in the early impressions, as in the example above.