32. Jacques Villon
(1875-1963)
Musiciens Chez le Bistro

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Villon, Musiciens Chez le Bistro

Musiciens Chez le Bistro

Soft-ground etching and aquatint and/or lavis, 1912, Ginestet & Pouillon E-270 ii/vi, 270 x 237 mm., provenance: Lucien Goldschmidt, 1970. This proof is cited in G & P. Rare, probably unique, impression before the complete reworking of the plate in line etching, on laid paper with full margins, signed in pencil and inscribed "2e Etat, 1er grain." While G & P describe this as the second state, it does not match their illustration as it is before the second grain of aquatint visible there. Goldschmidt, who handled much of the Villon estate, had both impressions, but this is the earlier. The work, which he later turned into one of his best cubist etchings, is at this stage a free and atmospheric study in aquatint over bare outlines in soft ground, and the progress of the print from this point is a recapitulation of Villon’s development from post-Impressionism to a harder-edged cubism. This impression has some broken white horizontal lines. These are part of the trial nature of such a proof and Villon's pencil signature and annotations are indications that he valued the impression. The finished work was published in an edition of 50. Proofs before that edition are of the greatest rarity.

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