Oreste Cortazzo’s etching, “Flood”, c1880

Oreste Cortazzo (1836–1910) 

“Flood” (aka “Overstroming”), c1880, published and printed by Alfred Cadart (1828–1875) in Paris

Etching with plate tone on wove paper

Size: (sheet) 27.6 x 18.2 cm; (plate) 16.1 x 12.1 cm.

Inscribed in plate: (lower left) “Cortazzo”; (lower right) “Imp y[?] Cadart”.

The Rijksmuseum offers the following description of this print: http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.99143

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression with good margins (possibly as published) in near pristine condition.

I am selling this marvellous etching that not only captures a light-hearted moment of chivalry wherein a young woman is protected from flood water and rain, but also stands as a fine example of how an artist working in the late 19^th century referenced design attributes of earlier artists (like Fragonard and Watteau) while also exploring the painterly strokes of the time in which the print was executed—I especially love the summary way in which the hand of the lower chap on the left captures the effect of a fleeting moment—for AU$219 (currently US$152.05/EUR145.97/GBP124 at the time of posting this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries.

If you are interested in purchasing this seldom seen etching by a sadly overlooked artist of great skill and lightness of touch spanning the narrative inspired world of the Academy and the theories of visual phenomena guiding the Impressionists, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.