Le Bon Marché Department Store
Felix Vallotton (1865-1925), Le Bon Marché Department Store, woodcut, 1893, signed in pencil lower right margin [also with the title in the block lower left and initials lower right]. Reference: Vallotton-Georg 116 a (of d). In very good condition, printed on a yellow/cream wove paper as specified for the lifetime impressions (there were also posthumous stamp-signed editions of 25 on white Japan and 15 on white wove), 7 7/8 x 10 1/4, the sheet 9 15/16 x 12 1/16 inches, archival matting.
A fine strong impression from the lifetime edition.
Founded in 1852, Le Bon Marché (which translates roughly to “good deal”) continues in operation today as a pre-eminent Paris department store.
Vallotton made drypoints and etchings early in his career, and began making woodcuts in 1891. By the next year he had achieved some measure of fame in this medium, with the publication of an article on his breakthrough approach by Octave Uzanne in the Paris journal “L’Art et L’Idee.” By 1893 he had obviously hit his stride, and Le Bon Marché represents one of the great examples of woodblock printmaking.