Harris Schrank Fine Prints

Camille Pissarro (1830-1903), Vue de Rouen (Cours-la-Reine), etching, soft ground etching, drypoint, maniere grise, 1884, signed in pencil lower right “C Pissarro”, numbered (No. 3) lower left, inscribed “Epreuve d’artiste” lower left, and titled “Vue de Rouen au Cours la reine” lower left. Reference: Delteil 50, state 3 (of 3). One of the dozen or so artist proofs of the third state (there was no edition, and only 1 proof of the first state and 4 of the second), and one of the five artist’s proofs that were numbered. In excellent condition with full margins, printed on a tan/buff colored hand made Dutch laid paper with the watermark Van Gelder. 5 7/8 x 7 7/8, the sheet 11 x 14 1/4 inches

A fine impression, printed in brown ink, with a veil of plate tone overall.

Pissarro did not like professional printing of his etchings, and so he printed most of his plates himself (working at this time with Degas, who also apparently printed many Pissarro proofs). The concept was not to produce a large edition of prints similar in appearance (only about 5 of Pissarro’s prints were in fact editioned during his lifetime); printmaking for Pissarro was a way of experimenting, achieving variations in light, mood, sensibility, with each proof. He did not intend to earn much money through printmaking (and he never did). In 1883 Pissarro was painting at Rouen, and returned to Paris with a number of sketches and full of recollections, which he used in developing the Rouen prints, which were probably completed in early 1884; Pissarro did not yet have a printing press of his own, so he used printing facilities in Paris. These are among his most engaging prints, and Vue de Rouen (Cours-la-Reine) is among the most successful of this group.