Auguste Feyen-Perrin, “Woman of the Woods”, 1873/5

Auguste Feyen-Perrin (also known as François-Nicolas-Augustin Feyen-Perrin) (1826–1888)
“Woman of the Woods” (Femme de bois), 1873/5

Technical Details & Condition:

Etching on fine Chine collé, mounted on a support sheet of fine laid paper featuring a partial Arches watermark. This print is sheet number 13 from the portfolio series “Mythologische Darstellungen” (Mythological Representations). It was printed and published in Paris in January 1875 by Alfred Cadart (1828–1875) as plate number 274 for volume 7 of the influential art periodical “L’Illustration Nouvelle”.

This is a richly inked and well-printed—nearly faultless—impression with generously wide margins. The sheet is in near pristine condition, completely free of tears, holes, folds, abrasions, handling marks, or stains.

Contextual Commentary:

While standard reference literature (Beraldi 13; IFF 8) lists this print as a single state, a rare, unlettered working trial proof exists in the British Museum collection. The British Museum copy was officially registered on May 10, 1873, demonstrating that Feyen-Perrin completed engraving the copper plate at least two years prior to its commercial distribution. This specific impression features the full, crisp plate lettering added subsequently for the formal 1875 portfolio publication by Cadart, marking it as the definitive published edition.

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 46.8 x 31.2 cm
• Platemark: 23.9 x 15.8 cm
• Image borderline: 16.6 x 8.7 cm

Plate Lettering:

• Above the image: (left) “274.”
• Below the image: (left) “A. Feyen Perrin, del. et sc.”; (centre) “FEMME DES BOIS.”; (right) “A. Cadart, Edit. Imp. 56, B.ard Haussmann, Paris.”

References:

References:

• Beraldi 13 (Henri Beraldi, “Les Graveurs du Dix-Neuvième Siècle: DORÉ - GAVARD,” vol. VI, 1887, Paris, Librairie L. Conquet, p. 98, cat. no. 13)
• IFF 8 (Jean Adhémar & Jacques Lethève, “Inventaire du Fonds Français après 1800: Doré-Folk”, Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Département des Estampes, vol. 7, 1953, p. 544, cat. no. 8) — Available via Bibliothèque Nationale de France (Gallica): https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k5489211f/f554.item
• British Museum: Museum Number 1873,0510.3354 — https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1873-0510-3354
• Kunsthalle Bremen: Inventory number 2022/5313 — https://bremen.museum-digital.de/object/19483  

Price & Shipping:

AU$229 (approximately US$161.61 / €144.95 / £121.29), including worldwide express shipping. Import duties are the buyer’s responsibility.

If you are interested in acquiring this eye-catching etching of a mythological woman of the woods, please contact me at oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. Secure payment is handled via PayPal invoice for a smooth, protected transaction.

Please note: To show the print's fine details as clearly as possible, the scan contrast has been digitally enhanced. Consequently, the image tones may not be a perfectly faithful representation of the subtleties of the print.