J. Villon After Paul Signac, Le Port de la Rochelle

Aquatint etching by Jacques de Villon (French, 1875-1963) after a painting by Paul Victor Jules Signac (French, 1863-1935) titled "Le Port de la Rochelle (The Port of La Rochelle)," originally painted in 1921, Chalcographie de Louvre edition. Pointillist view of sailboats in a harbor, likely in the South of France. Signed and dated "P Signas 1924" lower right in the plate, labeled "P Signac Pinxt," "Chalcographie de Louvre," and "Jacques Villon Sct," lower left, center, and right in the plate, below image. (Ref: Ginestet & Pouillon, #E644). Watkins Institute of Art Collection, Belmont University, Nashville, TN labels, en verso. Housed and matted under plexiglass in a gilt wood frame. Plate: 18" H x 23 3/4" W. Sight: 19 1/2" H x 24 3/4" W. Framed: 28" H x 32 3/4" 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: Overall good condition with some light fading. Not examined outside of frame.