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

Tuesday, 29 September 2026

Alfred Louis Brunet-Debaines, “Daphnis and Chloe”, 1878, after Louis Français

Alfred Louis Brunet-Debaines (1845–1939)

“Daphnis and Chloe”, 1878

Technical Details & Condition:

An exceptionally fine etching on heavy wove paper with generously wide margins and deckle edges on all sides. This is a scarce proof impression before lettering for publication, signed by the artist in the plate at the lower right corner.

The composition is an exquisite interpretive rendering based on the 1872 painting “Daphnis et Chloé” by Louis Français (also known as François-Louis Français) (1814–1897), currently held in the collection of Musée d'Orsay (inv. no. RF 86); see https://www.musee-orsay.fr/fr/oeuvres/daphnis-et-chloe-75082.

The impression is richly inked and crisp, featuring strong tonal contrasts that suggest a very early impression before any wear to the printing plate. Aside from very pale, unobtrusive foxing marks and minor age-toning at the outer edges of the sheet, this print remains in excellent condition—entirely free of tears, holes, folds, or significant stains.

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 46.5 x 55.5 cm
• Platemark: 31.7 x 37.7 cm
• Image borderline: 27.9 x 34.4 cm

In-Plate Lettering:

• Lower right corner: “A Brunet-Debaines … [Sc?]”

References:

• Jean Laren & Jean Adhémar, Inventaire du Fonds Français après 1800: BOCQVIN–BYON, 1942, Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Département des Estampes, vol. 3, p. 479 (titled, but not numbered) — (Gallica BnF digital record) https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k5488545z/f488.item

Price & Shipping:

AU$277 (approximately US$193.83/ €170.50/ £146.34, 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.

To acquire this superb impression of a finely executed and exceptionally rare etching—so rare that it is omitted from most major online museum repositories—please contact me directly at oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. I will gladly provide a secure PayPal invoice for a seamless purchase.