ALEX ORSI (FRANCE) MID-20TH C VINT SGND 'MOUSSY' SIAMESE CAT AQUATINT, ED 7/200

Description

ALEX ORSI
(FR
AN
CE)
MID-20TH CENTURY
VINTAGE
'MOUSSY' (PORTRAIT
of a
SIAMESE CAT) SIGNED
BLACK
&
WHITE AQUATINT
with
UNCOLORED EYES,
PRINT EDITION #7/200,
in
ORIGINAL PERIOD
RAKED SILVER GILT PERIOD FRAME
(Circa 1960)
Mid-20th century
Fr
en
ch
&
European
Modernist
printmaking & depictions of fauna
DIMENSIONS:
Frame:
22 1⁄4" Height x 16 1⁄2" Width
Image:
14
1⁄2" Height x
9 1⁄2" Width
Weight:
4 lbs. 3 oz.
DESCRIPTION:
A low edition number, being
print #7/200
of this version of six (6) hand-colored aquatint prints of the same subject,
Fr
en
ch
Modernist
artist
Alex Orsi
realized in
1960.
Some of the six (6)
Siamese cat
aquatint prints, named
'Moussy,'
often had hand-colored blue eyes. This particular print and version from the series of six (6) prints, did not. It's signed in pencil by the artist along the lower right in the print margin, as is the hand-written
edition #7/200.
This print, would've been only the 7th print after the Artist Proof was realized and the artist was satisfied with the results, leading to a final
run of 200 prints
of this version in all. The print has some natural tanning from the paper being exposed to light but doesn't suffer any water damage, stains, noticeable pushes, scuffs or paper loss. The slight tanning is minor and is a natural consequence of paper being exposed to light, in this case for over 60 years. There appears to be the slightest and now relaxed paper crease just above the edition number. It's not very long and is barely noticeable, most likely happening when the print was unframed. Deep blacks and nice graduated mid-tone grays make this an exceptional black and white aquatint print from the
mid-20th century
Fr
en
ch
artist
Alex Orsi,
known the world over for his
1960 series
of six (6) versions of
'Moussy, Portrait of a Siamese Cat'
black and white, hand-colored aquatint prints.
Untouched and undisturbed. It's in its original period silver gilt wood frame and unfortunately was originally placed under non-glare glass, which should be changed out for much clearer real glass or plexiglass. The matting as well, should be switched over to archival, 100% acid-free cotton mat board to ensure the print's survival far into the future. An iconic vintage image from the
mid-20th century
Modernist
era. Terrific.
CONDITION:
Good to Very Good overall vintage condition.