Charles Doudelet, The Chatelaine, 1897, Lithograph on Paper

Details

Description

Charles doudelet (1861-1938)

la châtelaine
(the lady of the manor)

original lithograph from the glorious portfolio "l'estampe moderne", issue #6 … Read more Charles doudelet (1861-1938)

la châtelaine
(the lady of the manor)

original lithograph from the glorious portfolio "l'estampe moderne", issue #6 (october 1897)

on wove paper

year: 1897

size (sheet): 405 x 305 mm

signed on the plate "ch. Doudelet mdcccxcvii", lower right

blind stamp of the publisher, lower right

excellent condition: minor signs of age and handling
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.
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the artist

charles doudelet was a singular figure in the belgian symbolist movement, whose work is defined by an eerie, mystical atmosphere and a deep fascination with the middle ages. He is perhaps best known for his intense collaboration with the nobel prize-winning playwright maurice maeterlinck. Doudelet’s illustrations for l'oiseau bleu and other works transformed the writer's words into a visual world of haunting beauty, where shadow and light play a psychological role.

his style is marked by a deliberate archaism, drawing heavily from the flemish primitives and woodcut traditions. His figures often appear elongated and solemn, moving through flattened, decorative spaces that emphasise spiritual weight over physical reality. In his lithographs, such as those contributed to l'estampe moderne, doudelet employed a somber, muted palette and thick, expressive outlines that evoke the solemnity of stained glass. A master of the "total art" concept, he moved seamlessly between painting, engraving, and book design, always seeking to capture the hidden, often melancholic, essence of the human soul behind the veil of the material world.
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from the text on the tissue paper:

"charles doudelet, qui a étudié avec passion les anciens chroniqueurs flamands et a vécu par l'esprit avec les vieux maîtres qui illustrèrent jadis la toscane et l'ombrie, se plaît à évoquer, en des pages charmantes, la somptuosité des cours d'autrefois.
dans le décor archaïque d'un parc seigneurial, la dame, - peut-être quelque princesse de la cour de ferrare, - revient de la chasse, montée sur son destrier richement caparaçonné. La soie mouvante de sa chevelure, qui enserre son fin profil de patricienne, retombe en nappes ondulées sur son corset de damas et des manches de son manteau écarlate, brodé d'or, sortent les mains graciles, faites pour le rouet ou la mandore, et qui tiennent les lourdes rênes. Rêveuse et distraite, la châtelaine s'avance entourée de ses lévriers aux longs poils. Et, songeant à ces aventures merveilleuses d'amadis qu'elle se plaît à relire souvent, elle évoque, parmi la foule brillante des jeunes che-valiers, qui tout à l'heure chevauchaient à ses côtés, celui qu'elle aimera, qu'elle aime peut-être déjà, et avec qui elle espère vivre le roman de sa vie.
les fanfares retentissent par delà les futaies, aux lèvres d'invisibles chasseurs, et déjà dans le lointain apparaît un page, sonnant du cor, pour annoncer la fin de la chasse"

english translation:

charles doudelet, who has passionately studied the ancient flemish chroniclers and has lived in spirit with the old masters who once illustrated tuscany and umbria, delights in evoking the sumptuousness of the courts of yesteryear in these charming pages.
in the archaic setting of a lordly park, the lady—perhaps some princess from the court of ferrara—returns from the hunt, mounted on her richly caparisoned steed. The shimmering silk of her hair, which frames her refined patrician profile, falls in undulating waves over her damask bodice; from the sleeves of her scarlet cloak, embroidered with gold, emerge slender hands made for the spinning wheel or the mandore, now holding the heavy reins. Dreamy and distracted, the lady of the manor advances, surrounded by her long-haired greyhounds. And, musing on those marvelous adventures of amadis that she enjoys rereading so often, she evokes—from among the brilliant crowd of young knights who were riding by her side just a moment ago—the one she will love, whom she perhaps loves already, and with whom she hopes to live out the romance of her life.
beyond the groves, the fanfares resound from the lips of invisible hunters, and already in the distance a page appears, sounding the horn to announce the end of the hunt.
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important:

. The listing is for the original print, in the above mentioned excellent condition.
. The original tissue paper introduction will be given to the buyer as a gift
. The cover by mucha and the edition (back of the cover) are shown as a reference and proof of authenticity and edition 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