Promenade dans la Neige. A Winter's Walk. Also known as 'Winter'. by James J. J. Tissot, 1836-1902

James J. J. Tissot, 1836-1902
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Promenade dans la Neige. A Winter's Walk. Also known as 'Winter'.

Original etching in black ink, with the decorative verse in red ink. 1880. Signed with the artist's red monogram stamp. Signed and dated in the plate. From the first issued edition of c.150 impressions, with the verse in red ink. There was also a second issue of c. 150 impressions with the verse in black. Printed by Goulding or Delātre, 1880/82. (See note below).
Ref: Wentworth - Tissot Prints no 48. Tissot's catalogue 44.

Extremely fine rich impression with the verse lines in red. On pale cream laid Van Gelder type paper. Excellent condition. Full margins. Sheet: 18 x27ins. Plate: 22 3/8 x 10 1/4ins. (568x263mm).

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Another in the series of portraits of Kathleen Newton in the role of a season, this study also has a secondary but perhaps even more important theme. By this date Kathleen was already seriously ill with the TB which was to cause her death a year and a half later. Tissot nonetheless portrays her in full health and full beauty, even though we know from contemporary photographs that the illness was taking its effect. Tissot was striving to show that love can keep out the 'winter cold' of sorrow, and he included the verse from Keats 1818 poem 'Fancy' to emphasise this idea.

The richness of the texture work and the contrasts of pattern and form, the head against the foliage, the fur wrap against the snow, makes this one of Tissot's great etchings. Although etched in 1880 it appears probable that the editions were not printed until after Tissot had returned to Paris, although some impressions may have been printed by Goulding in London. Certainly the apparently earliest impressions have the verse in red ink and the red monogram stamp, whilst more worn later impressions can be found with the verse in black.