Portrait of a Young Woman, Paul Cezanne, Fr. (1839-1906)

Etching and Roulette, 1873, Ref. C. 4, M. 4, & S. 4, from the Edition of 1000 bound into copies of Cezanne published by Vollard, Paris, in 1914, or later; the plate measures 5-3/16 x 4-3/16, The top arching line of the subject's hair on the left has either been wiped clean of the ink in printing this impression or the top plate edge filed slightly, creating a later state. Nearly all save for a few impressions printed by the artist of this etching are posthumous, and the quality of the impressions varies. Of Cezanne's 5 original etchings, I only recall seeing 3 in the marketplace, and this Portrait of a Young Woman, the least often of those 3.  This is a rich, well inked impression with a pleasing veil of a warm brown ink left on the plate, and all textural details clearly articulated. There is a pale mat line, moderate toning verso and the print has been restored. When found it was very darkly toned recto and verso from a previous mount, and to a degree consistent with the circa 1914 impressions. Additional research must be done on the printing history. It is printed on a heavy sheet of cream wove paper with the margins apparently full and proportionate to those observed on 1914 impressions. Cezanne's cursive signature is visible in the plate at lower right. $850