J. A. Muenier, Le Retour des Champs, 1898, Original Lithograph

Details

Description

Jules-Alexis Muenier (1863 - 1942)

Le Retour des Champs
(The Return from the Fields)

Original Lithograph from the glorious portfolio … Read more Jules-Alexis Muenier (1863 - 1942)

Le Retour des Champs
(The Return from the Fields)

Original Lithograph from the glorious portfolio "L'Estampe Moderne", issue #17 (September 1898)

On wove paper

Year: 1898

Size (sheet): 305 x 405 mm
Size (image): 265 x 352 mm

Signed bottom left

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

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

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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 Jules Breton).
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About the artist

Jules-Alexis Muenier (Lyon, 1863 - Coulevon, 1942) was a French painter and photographer.

In 1880, Jules-Alexis Muenier entered the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts where he studied under Jean-Léon Gérôme, now considered one of the most important academic painters of his age. In the latter half of that same decade Muenier began exhibiting his work, first at the Paris Salon with the painting Le Bréviaire, which brought him much acclaim. In 1891, he exhibited The Catechism Lesson which brought recognition from the government, which eventually purchased his work.

Many of his works depict his native Haute-Saône, where he lived most of his life. He received the Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur in 1895 and became a member of Académie des Beaux-Arts in 1921. He was a close friend of fellow realist painter Pascal Dagnan-Bouveret.

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from the text on the tissue paper, by Jules Breton:


Sous le crepuscule et le hâle
Le paysan deux fois bruni,
Baignant son front dans le ciel pâle
S’en revient – le travail fini.

Il porte la faux ou la bêche
A l’épaule; il va lentement,
Humectant sa poitrine sèche
De brume et d’odeur de froment.–

Il va lentement, à son aise
D’un pas tranquille en sa lourdeur;
Et l’occident, sourde fournaise
Le bronze d’une sombre ardeur.

Sous le toit noir de sa chaumière
Où fume un vague ruban bleu,
Brille un point de rouge lumière
La soupe chante sur le feu.

Sa compagne est robuste et sûre
Et les enfants sont bien portants
L’age vient: que peut sa morsure
Près de l’enfance – gai printemps?

Tel il marche par habitude
Tel il ira jusqu’au tombeau:
Content si par son labeur rude,
Les blés sont lourds et l’orge beau.


English translation:


The peasant twice browned
By the twilight and suntan,
Forehead bathed in the pale light,
Makes his way home, his labour done.

Bearing on his shoulder scythe or spade,
Slowly he goes,
Moistening his dry chest
with mist, and with the scent of wheat.

Slowly he goes, at his unhurried pace,
with calm and heavy tread;
The west, like a furnace smouldering,
Turns him a deep and fiery bronze.

Beneath his cottage’s black roof,
Where rises a faint blue strand of smoke,
There glows a spot of red;
The soup is singing on the fire.

His partner’s strong and firm,
The children thrive,
Old age approaches – what is its sting,
Set beside childhood’s gay springtime?

Thus he plods from habit long ingrained,
Thus will he plod until his dying day;
Content if through his humble toil
The wheat is heavy and the barley fair.


(This abstract from a poem by Jules Breton was very famous at that time. For example, Vincent van Gogh copied it in a letter to Anthon van Rappard dated March 8th, 1884 - letter 435)
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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 This piece has an attribution mark,
I am sure that it is completely authentic and take full responsibility for any authenticity
issues arising from misattribution See less