Antique fine art Etching Head of Young Woman by Eugene Joseph Henri Smits Portrait of girl 1875 hand-laid paper uncut, retailer original rare.

This original fine art etching from 1875 is presented on hand-laid, deckle edged paper in original form and has never been framed or hung. "Tete de Jeune Fille" by Belgian Artist Eugene Joseph Henri Smits is a charming and evocative study of a young woman by an artist noted for his figural works. The work is not signed in pencil but is carries the name E Smits and monogram E S in the plate. . The artist's name is credited in the accompanying material as E Smits (Belgique).

Smits, an important and influential nineteenth century Belgian etcher and painter, studied at the Brussels Academy, in 1837/38, and under Francois-Joseph Navez. He lived in Paris for 10 years from 1850, where he associated and exhibited with such artists as Manet, and retailer Millet. He and also worked in Italy for ten years before returning to Belgium. He is considered a master of figural works, genre scenes and landscapes.

This work is in good condition with no creases or tears. There is no foxing and just a little discolouration around the edge of the sheet. The sheet on which the etching is presented measures 46cm x 34cm while the etching itself measures approximately 18.5 cm x 24 cm (measured within the clear plate impression).

This work comes from collection of etchings published by the Societe International des Aqua-Fortistes, a society set up and led by Felicien Rops, noted Belgian etcher. The society published around 90 prints in monthly instalments throughout 1875. This print was published in a ‘cahir d'etude' containing 5 etchings in November of 1875.

Note: On offer is the print only. The folders in some of the photographs are shown for context only and are not included in the sale.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Notes on the original works:
This etching comes from a collection issued in 1875 by the Societe Internationale des Aqua Fortistes, based in Brussels, Belgium. The society had been formed in 1867 by Felicien Rops, a noted Belgian etcher who had previously been a member of the earlier Paris based Societe des Aquafortistes.

The original aim of Rops' society was to explore the techniques of etching and promote them among other artists. He worked with others to achieve this aim through perfecting techniques and teaching them to professional and amateur artists within the society and beyond. He set up a workshop and print house in Belgium to support the society using large amounts of his own money.

In 1873 the society changed direction, becoming more outward looking. An exhibition of some 500 works from across the world was planned for 1875. The society also planned to issue albums paid for by subscription on a monthly basis throughout 1875, mirroring the publications of the earlier Paris based society. The society issued 8 etchings per month throughout 1875 - 96 etchings in all. Three prints were issued each month in an album and a further five in a Cahir D'Etude.

While the plan was to issue these works each month the society's lack of organisation and perilous finances meant that the actual date of issue of each publication slipped, with the December 1875 etchings finally issued in December 1876. The exhibition took place as planned but was a critical and financial disaster which led to the demise of the society at the end of 1876.

The prints are very hard to find. A set is held by the Felicien Rops Museum in Namur, Belgium. Individual examples of works are held by Museums in Europe and the USA (for example Getty and the Metropolitan Museum in NY).