Raphaël Drouart, The Soul and the Mind, 1920s, Etching

Details

Description

Raphaël Drouart (1884 1972)

L'Âme et l'Esprit
(The Soul and the Mind)

Original Etching on Paper
1920s

Size (overall): 250 … Read more Raphaël Drouart (1884 1972)

L'Âme et l'Esprit
(The Soul and the Mind)

Original Etching on Paper
1920s

Size (overall): 250 x 324 mm
Size (image): 160 x 200 mm
Numbered 18/30, lower left
Hand Signed, lower right

Edition of 30

On the bottom, hand titled: "L'Ame et l'Esprit"

Provenance
Collection Jacques Rodrigues-Henriquès

Literature
Published in:
Thierry Lefrançois, "Raphaël Drouart : 1884-1972 : catalogue complet de son oeuvre gravé", La Rochelle, Musée des Beaux-Arts, 1990

Excellent Condition:
The central etched plate mark is crisp, and the ink impression of the figure and background is dark, rich, and clear with no smudging or fading
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The Artist

Maurice Raphaël Drouart (1884-1972), was a versatile French painter, printmaker, and illustrator whose career bridged classical artistic training and the modernist movements of the early twentieth century. He initially studied painting under Fernand Cormon and engaged closely with the Nabis, notably working as an assistant to Maurice Denis on the ceiling of the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées.

Drouart’s artistic trajectory was interrupted by the First World War, during which he spent over three years as a prisoner of war in Germany. Following his return, he mastered various printmaking techniques, eventually exhibiting his woodcuts, etchings, and lithographs widely. Throughout the 1920s, he gained renown as a book and art illustrator, collaborating with publishers like Arthur Goldscheider and participating in the landmark 1925 International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts. Appointed a knight of the Legion of Honour in 1938, Drouart passed away in 1972.
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The Collector

Jacques Rodrigues-Henriquès (1886–1968) was a prominent French art dealer and expert who operated a gallery on Rue Bonaparte and managed the artistic legacy of his stepfather, Félix Vallotton. Positioned within the powerful Bernheim-Jeune family and collaborating with critic Félix Fénéon, he shaped the European market for early 20th-century modern art by exhibiting works from major figures like Pierre Bonnard, Paul Signac, Georges Seurat, and Maximilien Luce.
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The Artwork

Raphaël Drouart’s etching L’Âme et l’Esprit presents a deeply allegorical and striking nocturnal scene. Centred around a classical stone fountain, a powerful jet of water bursts upward, cascading down into a smooth, circular basin. Flanking this central water source are two beautifully rendered nude figures kneeling symmetrically on a dark, patterned tiled floor.
On the left, a man is shown in profile, his head tilted back slightly and arms raised gracefully toward the fountain in a gesture of spiritual awe or ritualistic praise. On the right, a woman leans forward in contrast, bowing her head directly into the refreshing stream in an act of deep personal reflection, cleansing, or meditation.
Drouart creates a powerful composition through intense chiaroscuro. The background is dominated by a dense, heavily hatched wall of dark night foliage. This thick shroud of shadow pushes the pale, sculptural forms of the man and woman forward, making them glow against the darkness. The shifting textures of the flowing water bridge the two figures, reinforcing the classical, symbolic duality of the artwork's title. 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