Auguste Lançon, “Couching Dromedary”, 1866

Auguste-André Lançon (signed in the plate “André Lançon”—the name he used prior to 1872) (1836–1885)

“Couching Dromedary” (Dromadaire couché), 1866

Historical Context & The Van Gogh Connection:

This rare early print belongs to the Realist tradition of the 19th-century French Etching Revival. Auguste Lançon’s animal studies were highly influential and deeply respected by his contemporaries—most notably by Vincent van Gogh.

Van Gogh was a passionate collector of Lançon’s prints. In his personal letters to his brother Theo, Vincent frequently lauded Lançon’s genius for capturing the raw, unidealised character of animals, noting that Lançon’s draftsmanship possessed a rare honesty drawn straight from life.

Technical Details & Condition:

Etching with plate tone on wove paper, with full margins as issued. This superb study depicts a camel with tents and the Great Sphinx in the background, from the rare early series “Animal Studies Drawn from Life” (Études d'animaux dessinées d'après nature). 

The etching was printed by Auguste Delâtre (1822–1907) and published in Paris by R. Schultz (active 1866–1872). 

The impression is strong and evenly inked, with crisp detail and no signs of wear to the printing plate. Aside from foxing marks confined to the upper right margin, the sheet remains in very good condition, with no tears, holes, folds, or abrasions.

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 24.9 x 34.9 cm
• Platemark: 10.7 x 17.7 cm
• Image borderline: 10 x 17 cm

In-Plate lettering:

• Lower left: “1866 André Lançon”

References:

• Bibliothèque Nationale de France: Jacques Lethève & Françoise Gardey 1963, “Inventaire du Fonds Français après 1800: KA–LAURENCE”, Paris, Département des Estampes, vol. 12, pp. 380–85, unrecorded/not described — https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k5488490f/f392.item
• British Museum: Museum number 1872,1012.1465 — https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1872-1012-1465
• PROANTIC Marketplace: Reference number 828867— https://www.proantic.com/en/828867-etching-by-lancon-dromedary.html

Price & Shipping:

AU$212 (approximately US$150.98 / €131.39 / £112.73, subject to daily exchange rates). Price includes worldwide express shipping. Please note that destination import duties and local taxes remain the sole responsibility of the buyer.

If you’re interested in acquiring this curiously wonderful study of a camel settled squarely on its pads, please contact me at oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. I’ll gladly provide a secure PayPal invoice for a seamless transaction.