Eve de Dos devant le Pommier

Etching on light-gray laid paper with strange "tool" watermark (likely a paper that came from a small artisanal mill). Reference: Godefroy (Delteil) 101. As is usual for Besnard, there is no stated or known edition for this print. He seems to have printed "on demand". This particular composition is very scarce. Signed in pencil. NOTE: The simplicity of this composition shouldn’t fool you. It is an exquisitely simple and delicate rendering of Eve. She stands alone, in penumbra evoked by plate tone from edge to edge. She seems one with her surroundings, enshrined by the branches of the tree, and in the company of two rabbits in the lower left and a few flowers. A fruit hangs, barely noticeable, by her right shoulder, ripe for the plucking. She faces the decision to do so in solitude. Perhaps she will wait for Adam’s return to decide whether she should… Besnard pays homage to Rembrandt’s blank backgrounds, when creating portrait etchings. The assertive lines are also reminiscent of the master of etching. This etching is a true impressionist etching, before color and aquatint changed intaglio forever. While more detailed etchings by Besnard are appreciated by collectors and more famous, we consider this a quiet masterpiece that rivals some of his most famous works.