Johann Christoph Erhard’s etching, “The Russian Infantryman”, 1815

Johann Christoph Erhard (1795–1822)

“The Russian Infantryman” (aka “Kaisel Russ Infanterist”; “Der Russische Infanterist”), 1815, published in Nuremberg by Johann Friedrich Frauenholz (1758–1822).

Etching with plate tone printed in a warm black ink on buff coloured laid paper with full margins as published.

Size: (sheet) 28 x 22 cm; (plate) 13.5 x 5.7 cm.

Inscribed in plate at lower edge: “Kaisel Russ. Infanterist/ [artist’s monogram] Erha[rd fec]/ [1815.]”

State iii (of iii) with reduction in the height of the plate.

Apell 182.III (Aloys Apell 1866, “Das werk von Johann Christoph Erhard, maler und radirer ... mit einer biographie und dem bildness des künstlers”, Dresden, Apell, pp. 103–4, cat. no. 182, state III; see https://archive.org/details/daswerkvonjohann00apel/page/102/mode/2up).

See also the description of this print (state ii) offered by the Rijksmuseum: http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.108443.

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression with generously wide margins in near pristine condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, stains, foxing or signs of handling.

I am selling this historically important etching showing the issued military supplies for Russian infantryman (my apologies if there are more precise terms for the operational gear supplied to servicemen)—viz. long coat, flat cap, knapsack, ammunition pouch, rifle with bayonet and sabre— for AU$288 in total (currently US$153.32/EUR174.17/GBP153.32 at the time of 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 this marvellously insightful portrayal of a cold Russian soldier—my eyes are drawn to the nervous energy contained in the man’s fingers peeping out of the long cuffs of his heavy coarse coat and how their slight animation links in with the spring of his moustache and squinting eyes … and I must mention the genuineness of how the weight of the man as he leans on his gun is captured by the single finger as it steadies him on the gun barrel—please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.