Le Joueur d'Orgue. The Organ Grinder. by James J. J. Tissot, 1836-1902

James J. J. Tissot, 1836-1902
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Le Joueur d'Orgue. The Organ Grinder.

Original etching with drypoint in black ink. 1878. Signed in pencil. Signed with the artist's red monogram stamp. Signed in the plate. Inscribed with the title in pencil. From the only edition of c.150 impressions. Printed at Goulding's studio in London, 1878.
Provenance: The famous A. Beurdeley Collection (Lugt 421).
Ref: Wentworth - Tissot Prints no 38. Tissot's catalogue 34

Excellent beautifully printed impression with burr. On pale cream light laid hollande paper of the Blauw type. Very fine original condition; a tiny trace of soiling, probably from the press, lower left. With small margins. Sheet: 12 x 7 1/4ins. Plate: 10 1/4 x 6 1/2ins (262x165mm).

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This study was inspired by a street character whom Tissot saw by one of the 18th century terraces designed by Nash in Regents Park in London, near his own home. What is outwardly just a charming urban study has perhaps a more profound message. The rather forlorn organ grinder looks up at an empty window of the house as he plays, but there is no response from inside. Their protected world is deeply separated from the meanness of his existence.

It is Tissot's interest in filling his compositions with two levels of communication, the decorative or narrative and the social comment, which makes his art so important in the context of Victorian painting.

This impression is from the famous Beurdeley collection, bought before 1906 and quite possibly from Tissot himself before 1902.