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11. Jules Jacquemart (1837-1880) L’Écurueil et la Mouche? (The Squirrel and the Fly ?)
Etching, 1862, 235 x 313 mm., Béraldi 330, Bailly-Herzberg (1863) 34, Gonse 330 iv/iv. Fine impression on Montgolfier laid paper with full, very large margins and with the blind stamp of Cadart & Chevalier; the paper lightly toned.
Jacquemart’s name is so associated with masterly etchings of porcelain, glass and other decorative objects that it is a bit of a surprise to find original images from him, particularly so when several of them are rather weird. Not too many artists would have found artistic satisfaction in etching a dead squirrel (fly or no fly), though the print is obviously reminiscent of several of Bracquemond’s. Is it another form of a Vanitas? Or was he simply interested in delineating the textures and colors of the fur and a dead squirrel gave a far better opportunity than a live one? But then, why the fly? The ultimate question is: what is the significance of the question mark at the end of the title? Or is that a contribution of the typesetter – who didn’t know how to spell L’Écureuil? An interesting oddity and, as expected, supremely well etched.
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