French Female Harlequin Engraving after Pierre Carrier-Belleuse 1895

Description

Pierre Carrier-Belleuse engraving entitled Arlequine published in 1895 and engraved by Henri-Auguste Dochy.

The original composition is signed and dated Pierre Carrier-Belleuse 1892 within the image. The engraving was executed by Henri-Auguste Dochy, whose signature “H. Dochy” appears at the lower left.

The work depicts a young woman dressed as a female Harlequin. She stands facing the viewer in an elaborate theatrical costume with a patterned dress, heeled shoes, a headdress and a long textured stole. Her smiling expression and confident pose contrast with the dark background.

The exceptionally detailed treatment of the dress and fabrics reflects Carrier-Belleuse’s interest in fashionable women, dancers and theatrical subjects.

Pierre-Gérard Carrier-Belleuse was born in Paris in 1851 and died in 1932. He studied under Alexandre Cabanel and Pierre-Victor Galland at the École des Beaux-Arts. He exhibited at the Paris Salon from 1875 and received a silver medal at the 1889 Paris Universal Exhibition.

He was the son of the celebrated French sculptor Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse and the brother of the painter and sculptor Louis-Robert Carrier-Belleuse.

The printed credit “Photographie de la maison Braun” records the involvement of the Adolphe Braun photographic publishing house in reproducing the original work before its interpretation by the engraver.

Artist: Pierre Carrier-Belleuse
Engraver: Henri-Auguste Dochy
Title: Arlequine
Date of the original composition: 1892
Publication date: 1895
Technique: wood engraving on paper
Country of origin: France

Sheet size: 32 × 23.3 cm or approximately 12.6 × 9.2 inches.
Printed image: 28.3 × 19.3 cm or approximately 11.1 × 7.6 inches.