Jules Gustave BESSON

Rare original color lithograph, executed by Jules-Gustave Besson for L'Estampe Moderne, series number 14 published in June 1898.
One of 50 deluxe proofs printed on Japan paper with wide margins, artist's signature in the plate, publisher's blind stamp depicting a child's profile in lower margin, numbered luxury edition stamp on verso; engraving preceded by a tissue guard captioned with the artist's name, title, and text.
Lithograph inspired by an extract from Germinal by Emile Zola, reproduced on the print's tissue guard.
Magnificent French monthly publication edited between May 1897 and April 1899, L'Estampe moderne consists of original chromolithographs which, unlike other periodicals such as Les Maîtres de l'Affiche and as stipulated on the tissue guards, were created specifically by each artist for the review. Thus 100 prints appeared in total, covering the major artistic movements of the late 19th century: Symbolism, Art Nouveau, Pre-Raphaelites, Orientalists and Belle Époque. Each delivery of four prints was issued in 2000 copies sold for 3.50F and 100 on Japan paper offered at 10F. Henri Piazza also planned a confidential deluxe printing: 50 copies on Japan paper with wide margins and 50 in black on China paper at the considerable price of 30F.
This print of handsome format is superbly printed on the most prestigious of papers: Japan. Thick, silky, satiny and lustrous, it contributes to making each page a work in its own right. Its ink absorption quality and affinity with colors also make it the ideal support for these very beautiful lithographs.
French collectors' interest in artistic posters intensified at the beginning of the 1890s. Octave Uzanne, to describe this fever, invented the term "poster mania". The poster, originally popular and plastered in the streets of the capital, then became an art object and its ephemeral support became precious and destined for preservation.
Piazza decided to remove the poster from its advertising vocation and elevate it to the rank of a complete work of art on the same level as the deluxe illustrated book. He thus composed a prestigious collection of entirely original works, by the most prominent European artists of the moment: Georges de Feure, Eugène Grasset, Henri Detouche, Emile Berchmans, Louis Rhead, Gaston de Latenay, Lucien Lévy-Dhurmer, Gustave-Max Stevens, Charles Doudelet, Hans Christiansen, Henri Fantin-Latour, Steinlen, Ibels, Engels, Willette, Henri Meunier, Evenepoël, Bellery-Desfontaines, Charles Léandre, etc.
Handsome copy.

Rare original lithograph, executed by Jules-Gustave Besson for L'Estampe Moderne, series number 14 published in June 1898.
One of 50 deluxe proofs printed on China paper with large margins, artist's signature in the plate, publisher's dry stamp showing a child's profile in the lower margin, mounted on a sheet of laid paper with the numbered stamp of the deluxe edition on verso, some foxing.
Lithograph inspired by an extract from Germinal by Emile Zola.
Magnificent French monthly publication edited between May 1897 and April 1899, L'Estampe moderne consists of unpublished chromolithographs which, unlike other magazines such as Les Maîtres de l'Affiche and as stipulated on the tissue guards, were created specially by each artist for the magazine. Thus 100 prints appeared in total, covering the major artistic movements of the late 19th century: Symbolism, Art Nouveau, Pre-Raphaelites, Orientalists and Belle Époque. Each delivery of four prints was printed in 2000 copies sold at 3.50F and 100 on Japan paper offered at 10F. Henri Piazza also planned a confidential very deluxe printing: 50 copies on Japan paper with large margins and 50 in black on China paper at the considerable price of 30F.
This print of handsome format is superbly printed on one of the most prestigious papers: China. "Despite all its qualities, China paper, too insubstantial, owes its reputation, not to its own beauty, but indeed to its particular affinities with printing ink. Its texture, smooth and soft together, is more apt than any other to receive a beautiful printing. This property makes China paper sought after for printing engravings..." (Anatole France).
The interest of French collectors in artistic posters intensified at the beginning of the 1890s. Octave Uzanne, to qualify this fever, invented the term "affichomanie." The poster, originally popular and posted in the streets of the capital, then became an art object and its ephemeral medium became precious and devoted to conservation.
Piazza decided to remove the poster from its advertising vocation and elevate it to the rank of a complete work of art on the same level as the deluxe illustrated book. He thus composed a prestigious collection of entirely original works, by the most prominent European artists of the moment: Georges de Feure, Eugène Grasset, Henri Detouche, Emile Berchmans, Louis Rhead, Gaston de Latenay, Lucien Lévy-Dhurmer, Gustave-Max Stevens, Charles Doudelet, Hans Christiansen, Henri Fantin-Latour, Steinlen, Ibels, Engels, Willette, Henri Meunier, Evenepoël, Bellery-Desfontaines, Charles Léandre, etc.
Handsome copy.

Original colour lithograph executed specifically by the artist for l'Estampe Moderne. Proof printed on strong laid paper protected by a printed tissue guard, publisher's dry stamp in lower margin. Artist's signature in the plate. Very handsome copy.
Lithograph inspired by an excerpt from Germinal by Emile Zola, of which an extract is reproduced on the print's tissue guard.
Published by Ch. Masson and H. Piazza, the two years of l'Estampe Moderne constitute one of the finest lithographic achievements of the period. Each print is an original work created specifically for the review by the greatest French and foreign artists representing Symbolist, Art Nouveau, Orientalist and "Belle Epoque" movements.