Victor Prouvé, Le Baiser / The Kiss, 1898, Original Lithograph

Victor Prouvé

Le Baiser
(The Kiss)

Original Lithograph from the glorious portfolio "L'Estampe Moderne", issue #20 (December 1898)

On wove paper

Year: 1898

Size (sheet): 405 x 305 mm
Size (image): 348 x 244 mm

Signed in the plate, bottom left

Blind stamp of the publisher, bottom right, out of the image

Excellent condition: minor signs of age
Great colours
Full margins (not cropped, not trimmed)

Same print in the MoMA collection, NY, inventory: 361.1958.1

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About the Collection (L'Estampe Moderne)

L'Estampe Moderne appeared in 1897-1899 as a series of 24 monthly fascicles, each containing 4 original lithographs, printed by Parisian Imprimerie Champenois. Many accomplished European Art Nouveau painters contributed works to this publication, which contained only Original prints invented and produced especially for this collection. The publication was edited by Charles Masson and H. Piazza. Each issue came in a paper cover bearing an original lithograph by Alphonse Mucha.
Each lithograph was accompanied by a tissue containing the details (title of the artwork, name of the artist, etc.) and a short text by a well-known author who inspired the artist (this one being by J. Moret).
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About the artist

Victor Prouvé (1858 – 1943) was a French painter, sculptor and engraver of the Art Nouveau École de Nancy.

He was born in Nancy. He designed decors of glass works and furniture for Émile Gallé and worked for Eugène Vallin, Fernand Courteix, the Daum Brothers and Albert Heymann. He worked on book bindings with Camille Martin and the bookbinder René Wiener.

In 1890 he went with the dissenting artists to the new Société des Beaux-Arts. He became the second president of the École de Nancy at Émile Gallé's death, in 1904. from 1919 to 1940, he took the direction of the School of Fine Arts of Nancy.

Beyond his contributions to painting and sculpture, Prouvé also ventured into jewellery design, creating pieces such as waist belts and brooches. His jewellery work displays a sculptural quality, characterised by intentional composition and fluid modeling. Crafted with precision by M. Rivaud, these creations reflect Prouvé’s distinctive approach to wearable art

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from the text on the tissue paper, by J. Moret:

Plus tard, enfant, tu connaîtras
L'existence et sa lutte amère;
Pour le moment, borne à ta mere
Le cercle étroit de tes deux bras.
Sois joyeux et ris, mon doux ange,
Tes beaux yeux pleureront un jour
En attendant, va, cher amour,
Chante ta chanson de mésange.
Et parfois, lorsque nous souffrons,
Pour calmer nos âmes moroses
Mets tes petites lèvres roses
Sur la tristesse de nos

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Important:

. The listing is for the original print, in the above mentioned very good / excellent condition.
. The original tissue paper introduction has some folds and tears, especially along the margins, and it will be given as is to the buyer as a gift for confirming the authenticity.
. The cover by Mucha is shown as a reference