Émile René Ménard L’Automne 1897 Symbolist Lithograph with Wide Margins

Description

This René Ménard lithograph depicts L’Automne — Autumn — a poetic composition published in 1897. Two nude female figures occupy a wooded landscape overlooking water and distant hills.

On the right, a standing woman seen from behind reaches towards the branches of a fruit tree. Her raised arms follow the movement of the foliage above her. On the left, a seated woman rests in the grass, her thoughtful pose providing a quiet counterpoint to the standing figure.

The composition draws its appeal from the balance between the softly modelled figures and the darker vegetation. Open water and distant landforms create depth, while the foreground brings together the human figure and the natural world. The seasonal subject and contemplative atmosphere reflect Ménard’s Symbolist sensibility within the artistic culture of the Belle Époque.

This monochrome impression has generous margins. The artist’s printed monogram appears within the image, and the sheet bears the L’Estampe Moderne publisher’s blind stamp. The monogram is part of the printed composition.

Artist: Émile-René Ménard (1862–1930).
Title: L’Automne / Autumn.
Composition published: 1897.
Medium: lithograph on paper.
Sheet dimensions: 55 × 40.5 cm.
Image dimensions: 33.3 × 24.5 cm.

Condition: an attractive impression overall. A crease is present towards the bottom of the lower margin, well away from the printed image. Please examine the photographs for the condition of the sheet.

The broad margins offer ample space around the composition, making this an appealing work for collectors of French lithography, Symbolist imagery and late nineteenth-century decorative art.