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CAMILLE PISSARRO
La Masure
.
Etching and aquatint printed in black on antique, cream laid paper,
1879. 167x170 mm; 6
5
/
8
x6
3
/
4
inches, full margins.Third state (of 7).The
unique impression in this state, before the addition of aquatint to the
sky, and one of approximately only 20 lifetime impressions in all 7 states
combined. Inscribed “3e état no. 1” and titled in pencil, lower left. A
brilliant, early and richly-inked, proof-like impression, with crisp,
uneven and inky plate edges.
Pissarro worked closely on the printing of this plate with Degas. It has
been noted that Degas likely even printed some impressions in colors
for Pissarro of the sixth state; however the leafless trees added to the
upper right of the plate by the artist in the seventh state indicate that
he had a somewhat colorless representation of a farm on a winter day
in mind for the final version of this subject.
According to Shapiro, “In 1891 Pissarro wrote to [his son] Lucien, ‘As
for
La Masure
, you know that only six of this one have been pulled.The
steeled proofs are sometimes very beautiful but less rare . . . I suppose
you will have difficulty in making people understand that I am not an
engraver, that these are simply graven impressions.’ Pissarro also
mentioned in 1891 that his lost plates for
La Masure
were discovered by
Degas while cleaning up his studio.” Delteil 20.
[15,000/20,000]
PISSARRO,
La Masure
,etching and aquatint,1879,seventh state
(of 7).