Jane Avril

Brush lithograph printed in colors, 1899, Wittrock P 29 A, from the pencil signed edition of proably 25; Adhémar 323; Delteil 367 and Adriani 354. 22 1/8 x 14 in. (Image); 22 1/8 x 15 in. and 560 x 380mm (sheet size) Signed in pencil, lower left and with the snake remarque. This is a fine impression with great colors in generally very good condition. The sheet is full as printed apart from slightly irregular trimming along the right side. There's a small, skillfully repair in the upper left corner. There's a faint remnant of old adhesive along the top edge and occasional small breaks in the sheet edges which have also been properly repaired. The sheet is slightly toned within the left and right edges and also along the top where an earlier mat covered the top of image by about one inch. This impression bears the pencil numbering "13/21" near the signature which is slightly confusing. This VERY RARE first state was printed in an edition of 25 according to Wittrock. Three impressions of the first state are cited in museum collections and 17 impressions of state B are in museum collections. This B state is without the signature and the remarque. This spectacular, fin de siècle image was printed by H. Stern and the work was commissioned by Jane Avril. Provenance: M. Knoedler, NY (their label) and private collection, Washington, DC. Note: Our paper conservator has written up a formal condition statement which we can provide to seriously interested clients.