Léon Gaucherel, “Où diable l'amour va-t-il se nicher!”, 1873, after Charles-Édouard de Beaumont

Léon Gaucherel (1816–1886)

“Où diable l'amour va-t-il se nicher!” (Where the devil will love go to nest?), 1873

Background insights:

This etching is based on the design of a painting by Charles-Édouard de Beaumont (1821–1888), which parodies Charles Nègre’s iconic 1853 photograph “Le Stryge” (The Vampire). Where Nègre captured the photographer Henri Le Secq looking out over Paris alongside Notre-Dame's famous stone demon. Beaumont and Gaucherel replaced the image of Le Secq with a pair of trysting lovers huddled high in the cathedral's stone gallery.

This impression was printed in Paris by Charles Delâtre (active circa 1872–1876). It was issued as an illustration for the satirical article “Paris en Voyage” in the avant-garde journal Paris à l'eau-forte (No. 22). As noted by the Paris Musées / Maison de Victor Hugo, the image cleverly visualises a line from the text: “Lovers, in spring, love old towers, just like the 'hirodelel' [swallow] sung by Victor Hugo." This nods to Hugo’s celebrated poetry collection Les Contemplations (1856), drawing a witty parallel between private birds nesting away from the world and human lovers seeking shelter amid the dizzying, demonic architecture of Paris.

Technical Details & Condition:

Etching with drypoint printed on cream laid paper with a partial watermark and full margins as issued.

The impression is crisp, strong, and evenly printed. Aside from a flattened historical fold in the upper margin safely isolated from the image matrix, the sheet is in excellent condition—free of tears, foxing, modern restoration, or surface stains.

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 27.8 x 18.5 cm
• Platemark: 18.0 x 12.2 cm
• Image borderline: 16.6 x 11.0 cm

In-Plate Lettering:

• Above image (Right): “A d.”
• Within image (Right): “E. Beaumont” (Reproducing the painter’s signature)
• Below image (Left): “Imp: C. Delatre”
• Below image (Centre): “Où diable l'amour va-t-il se nicher!”
• Below image (Right): Léon Gaucherel del”

References:

• IFF 159 (Jean Adhémar & Jacques Lethève, “Inventaire du Fonds Français après 1800: FOLLET–GAVARNI”, 1954, vol. 8, Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, p. 441, cat. no. 159) — https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k5489221t/f453.image

• Paris Musées Collections: Maison de Victor Hugo Inventory Number 2017.0.4053 —  https://www.parismuseescollections.paris.fr/fr/maison-de-victor-hugo/oeuvres/ou-diable-l-amour-va-t-il-se-nicher
• For an expanded historical context on the architectural and photographic history of the specific composition, see the Princeton University Graphic Arts Collection — https://www.princeton.edu/~graphicarts/2012/07/du_diable_lamour_ya-t-il_se_ni.html

Price & Shipping:

AU$224 in total (approximately US$157.38 / €138.22 / £119.01), including worldwide express shipping. Please note that import duties are the buyer's responsibility.

If you are interested in purchasing this sensitively executed etching celebrating love in unexpected and dizzying places, please contact me directly at oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. A secure PayPal invoice will be generated to complete your transaction seamlessly.