Édouard Manet (1832-1883) Polichinelle. 1874.... Lot 321

Édouard Manet (1832-1883) Polichinelle. 1874. Lithography. [300 x 485]. Guérin 79; Bareau-Berès 83; Fisher 61; Colour printing. Interesting proof on white vellum, from the second print (in number) with the letter, washed and lined on thin Japanese, trimmed, with a small damage to the subject at the right edge, but complete with verses and the name Banville, signed in pen and sepia ink (the initials slightly truncated on the right). "Unique color print made by Manet. The model was a friend of his, the painter Edmond André, who also appears in this costume in the painting entitled Bal masqué à l'Opéra (Washington, National Gallery of Art), refused by the Salon jury. Manet had launched a competition between poets to write two verses to be inscribed under the image of his Polichinelle. He chose the Alexandrians of Theodore de Banville (1823-1891), who was considered one of the most eminent poets of his time. In 1876, 8,000 copies of the lithograph were removed and offered as a bonus to subscribers of the newspaper Le Temps. As the censorship thought it recognized a caricature of General Mac-Mahon, it prohibited its dissemination. " (Source: INHA). Of the 8,000 events, 1,500 were effectively destroyed, according to Rançon, Lemercier's nephew and driver during the draw. Several slight scratches slightly perceptible on the surface.