Félix Bracquemond, Hen with the Golden Eggs, Etching on Japan Paper, 1880

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La Poule aux Œufs d’Or – Original Etching by Félix Bracquemond, Avant la Lettre, on Japan Paper, Late 19th Century … Read more La Poule aux Œufs d’Or – Original Etching by Félix Bracquemond, Avant la Lettre, on Japan Paper, Late 19th Century A fine and likely early impression of Félix Bracquemond’s celebrated etching La Poule aux Œufs d’Or (“The Hen with the Golden Eggs”), produced as an illustration for Jean de La Fontaine’s Fables. Bracquemond (1833–1914), one of the foremost French etchers of the 19th century and a pioneer of Japonisme in the decorative arts, was renowned for his ability to combine precision with character, particularly in animal subjects. This impression is printed without the title or any letterpress text beneath the image, identifying it as an avant la lettre proof or special edition print taken directly from the plate. Such impressions were often reserved for collectors and connoisseurs, offering the pure etched image without the framing of the published edition. The work shows a plump hen, comfortably settled in a wicker basket lined with eggs—La Fontaine’s visual metaphor for greed and the loss it brings when one seeks too much at once. Bracquemond’s meticulous linework captures both the textures of the bird’s plumage and the woven basket, with a mastery of fine hatching and controlled contrast. This example is printed on thin, fine-textured Japan paper (papier Japon), prized in the 19th century for its smooth surface and warm tone, which allow exceptional clarity of line and subtle gradations in the etching. The sheet retains full margins and shows the plate mark clearly, with deckled edges adding to its visual appeal. Such separate impressions, particularly on Japan paper, are far scarcer than those found in bound volumes, and are highly sought after by collectors of Bracquemond and French 19th-century printmaking. Condition: Very good for age. Minor handling marks and faint scattered spots, otherwise clean and well-preserved with strong plate impression and generous margins. Framing tips: Float-mount on an acid-free backboard within a slim black or dark walnut frame to showcase the deckled edges and preserve the delicate paper. Technique: Etching on Japan paper Maker: Félix Bracquemond, France, c.1875–1890 See less