Prints and Principles

Most of the recent posts give details about individual prints and earlier posts discuss some of the subtle principles guiding artists in making images meaningful and memorable. For prints that are unsold, click "Items still available for sale" below. All other prints are no longer available. My contact email is oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com and my Instagram username is @printsandprinciples. I have created a separate blog to show my own work: https://printsandprinciplesjamesbrown.blogspot.com

Monday, 22 June 2026

Adolphe Appian, “Avant la Pluie, Village de Villeneuve”, 1869

Adolphe Appian (also known as Jacques Barthélemy Appian) (1818–1898)

“Avant la Pluie, Village de Villeneuve” (Before the Rain, Village of Villeneuve), 1869

Technical Details & Condition:

Etching on tissue-thin buff-coloured Japanese laid paper, with generously wide margins. It is an exceptionally rare proof-state impression before lettering for publication. The sheet bears a pencil inscription by an unknown hand along the lower edge (recto) providing details of the title and artist.

The impression is strong and well-printed—a flawless proof! Aside from the pencil inscription, the sheet is in pristine condition, free of tears, holes, folds, abrasions, stains, or handling marks..

Dimensions:

• Sheet (slightly uneven): 28.9 x 39.8 cm
• Platemark (soft): 16 x 22.8 cm
• Image borderline: 12.3 x 21.1 cm

In-Plate Lettering:

• Upper left corner: “APPIA[N] 1889”

References:

• Curtis & Prouté 28 i (Atherton Cutiis & Paul Prouté, “Adolphe Appian son Oeuvre Gravé et Lithographié”, 1968, Paris, Paul Prouté, [n.p.] cat. no. 28 i)
• Jennings 25 (Herbert H Jennings, Adolphe Appian (essay) in “Print Collector’s Quarterly,” vol. 12, 1925, no. 1, p. 115, cat. no. 25)—see https://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/print_collectors_quarterly1925/0134/scroll (scroll to find the page 115)

Philip Gilbert Hamerton’s insight:

In Hamerton’s 1876 edition of “Etching and Etchers”, he offers the following insights about Appian’s work:“…his [Appian’s] work is that each plate, however large or however small it may be, is conceived from the first as a whole, and the first conception is never departed from for the disproportionate realisation of some obtrusive detail.” Further: “…Appian sees always in masses, and gives quite as much detail as is consistent with the preservation of the mass” (pp. 202–03)

Price & Shipping:

AU$316 (approximately US$221.32 / €193.19 / £167.59), including worldwide express shipping. Import duties and taxes (if any) are the buyer’s responsibility.

To acquire this exceptionally rare and beautiful proof-state impression by an artist with a strong personal vision of his surroundings and a close connection with the Barbizon School, please contact oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. Secure payment is handled via PayPal invoice for a smooth, protected transaction.

This print has been sold