3 J. Villon Prints After Friesz, Cezanne, Utrillo

1st item: Jacques de Villon (French, 1875-1963) aquatint etching on Arches paper after a painting by Achille-Emile Othon Friesz (France, 1879-1949) titled "The Grape Harvest," originally painted in 1925-26, Chalcographie de Louvre edition. Depicts a group of people processing a grape harvest against a landscape setting. Signed "E Othon Friesz" in the plate, lower left, labeled "Friesz Pinxt," "Chalcographie de Louvre," and "Jacques Villon Sct," lower left, center, and right below image. Arches watermark, lower center, below plate. Housed under glass in a carved giltwood frame with an off white linen fillet. Plate: 16" H x 21" W. Sight: 21 1/2" H x 27 1/2" W. Framed: 29" H x 34 3/4" W. 2nd item: Jacques de Villon aquatint etching after a painting by Paul Cezanne (France, 1839-1906) from a series of paintings titled "Les Jouers de Cartes (The Card Players)," originally painted circa 1890-92, Chalcographie de Louvre edition. Depicts a interior scene of a group of men playing cards at a table. Labeled "Cezanne Pinxt," "Chalcographie de Louvre," and "Jacques Villon Sct," lower left, center, and right in the plate, below image. Watkins Institute of Art Collection, Belmont University, Nashville, TN labels, en verso. Housed and matted under plexiglass in a carved gilt wood frame with an off white linen liner and a giltwood fillet. Sight: 18 1/2" H x 22 3/4" W. Framed: 29" H x 33 1/4" W. 3rd item: Jacques de Villon aquatint etching after a painting by Maurice Utrillo (French, 1883-1955) titled "L'Eglise de Limours (The Church of Limours)," originally painted in 1922, Chalcographie de Louvre edition. Depicts the Romanian Orthodox Church of the Metropolitan residence of Limours beneath a cloudy blue sky. Signed and dated "Marice Utrillo, U, 1922" in the plate, lower left, labeled "Utrillo Pinxt," "Chalcographie de Louvre," and "Jacques Villon Sct," lower left, center, and right below image. Watkins Institute of Art Collection, Belmont University, Nashville, TN labels, en verso. (Ref: Catalogue raisonne Ginestet-Pouillon #654). Housed and matted under glass in a gilt wood frame. Plate: 19 1/2" H x 11 1/8" W. Sight: 20 1/4" H x 12" W. Framed: 29" H x 20 1/4" W. Provenance: Art Collection of former Watkins College of Art; proceeds benefit scholarship endowment for students in the new Watkins College of Art at Belmont University. Note: In 1920, the artist Jacques de Villon was commissioned by the Galerie Bernheim-Jeune to create aquatint engravings based on the canvases of several important painters including Matisse, Modigliani, Picasso, and even Villon himself, "for the purpose of promoting Impressionism and supporting contemporary creation. ... No photomechanical processes were used in this project and the resulting prints are miracles of the engraver's art." (Orozco,p. 16). Villon employed a painstaking and time consuming 18th century color engraving method using three and sometimes four plates to complete the final proof, in an effort to create a final print as true as possible to the original painting. After the original run of about 200 prints (plus several artist proofs) for the Galerie Bernheim-Jeune, these plates were acquired by the Chalcographie du Louvre, which reissued an unknown number of the Villon prints in the mid 20th century, prior to Villon's death. For an excellent explanation of Villon's process as well as a detailed catalog of his prints, refer to Miguel Orozco, "The Prints of Jacques Villon Vol. 1" https://www.academia.edu/42703372/The_prints_of_Jacques_Villon_Vol_1_Interpretation_works
Condition Report: 1st item: Overall good condition with toning, scattered minute foxing spots. Some debris trapped under glass. Staining to liner. Not examined outside of frame. 2nd item: Overall good condition. Not examined outside of frame. Frame with areas of loss, largest 1", to gilt. 3rd item: Overall good condition with toning. Not examined outside of frame.