Antique Marcel Augis Signed Aquatint Etching – Moonlit Harbor Sailing Ship – SZL Blindstamp, French Marine C. 1910–1935

Details

Description

This elegant early 20th-century aquatint etching by French artist Marcel Augis (active 1910–1935) captures a serene moonlit harbor scene with … Read more This elegant early 20th-century aquatint etching by French artist Marcel Augis (active 1910–1935) captures a serene moonlit harbor scene with masterful atmospheric depth. A large sailing vessel rides at anchor in calm waters, its rigging and hull finely etched against a misty sky. A delicate crescent moon casts a shimmering reflection across the sea, while smaller ships fade into the distance and rugged rocks frame the foreground — a quintessential example of French marine printmaking traditions.
Executed in true aquatint technique on aged European rag paper, the print features rich tonal gradations in the sky and water, delicate line work in the ship’s details, and a visible intaglio plate mark surrounding the image. It is pencil-signed “Marcel Augis” in the lower margin and bears the distinctive triangular SZL blindstamp of Sidney Z. Lucas, the respected New York publisher who imported and authenticated many fine European etchings in the 1920s–30s. This mark, combined with the strong plate impression, confirms this as a genuine lifetime impression pulled directly from the artist’s plate.
Augis is best known for his WWI documentary etchings (many in the Imperial War Museums collection) and serene landscapes, but his rare nautical subjects like this one are prized for their luminous mood and vertical elegance. Perfect for coastal interiors, beach houses, or sophisticated gallery walls.
Condition
Good antique condition with honest age-appropriate patina.
• Natural warm sepia and subtle blue-gray toning on the paper
• Light foxing confined to the margins
• Minor edge wear and one small corner crease at lower margin (does not affect image)
• Plate mark crisp and deeply embossed
• Pencil signature and SZL blindstamp clear and intact See less