Portrait of Stéphane Mallarmé
Original title: Portrait of Stéphane Mallarmé
kurzbeschreibung
Paul Gauguin etched this portrait of Stéphane Mallarmé in 1891. The French poet appears in profile, his head tilted to the left, his gaze directed forward. Executed as a drypoint on paper, the print was issued in an edition of 99.
Description
A man is seen in profile facing left, his head slightly bowed, his eyes looking straight ahead. He wears a collared shirt. Behind him lies a dense, dark structure reminiscent of forest or undergrowth. The grey tones of the monochrome print arise from the etched lines and the varying depth of shadow. Light strikes the side of his face, emphasising its contours. At the lower right are a signature and the number '15/99', indicating the edition.
Context
The etching was made in 1891, the year of Gauguin's first trip to Tahiti. In Paris, within the Symbolist circle, Mallarmé was a central figure. Only a few of Gauguin's prints engage with literary contemporaries. The sheet was printed in a limited edition of 99 copies.
Impact
The delicate line and restrained light make the portrait feel intimate and contemplative. The dark, almost impenetrable background structure contrasts with the bright face, drawing the eye to the poet's features. Through its monochrome, the portrait acquires a timeless, almost meditative mood.
Technique
For this etching Gauguin used drypoint, in which the plate is worked directly. The lines are fine and detailed, with shadows created by varying density and depth of strokes. The paper shows a visible texture that shapes the surface of the print.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)