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Lot Essay
‘Why should the inspiration that exudes from an artist’s manipulation of the hairs of a brush be any different from that of the artist who bends at will the rays of light?’ –Pierre Dubreuil, ‘Le Caractère Personnel,’ Association Belge de Photographe, Bulletin no. 7, (July 1930), p. 54.
For this print, Dubreuil has created a more impressionistic, textural image than other existing prints from the same negative. The title, Antithèse, may refer to the various opposing forces evident in this Modernist image such as the straight lines that are delineated with sharpness and strong contrast against the curved lines that are more softly modeled. Likewise, the suggested pulling action of the pinchers opposes the binding function of the nails.
Dubreuil would often pursue new types of tonal reproductions, experimenting with lighting, contrast and ink consistencies. The print in the present lot is a fine example of such investigations by the artist. At the time of this writing, this is one of only three prints of this image known to exist.
For this print, Dubreuil has created a more impressionistic, textural image than other existing prints from the same negative. The title, Antithèse, may refer to the various opposing forces evident in this Modernist image such as the straight lines that are delineated with sharpness and strong contrast against the curved lines that are more softly modeled. Likewise, the suggested pulling action of the pinchers opposes the binding function of the nails.
Dubreuil would often pursue new types of tonal reproductions, experimenting with lighting, contrast and ink consistencies. The print in the present lot is a fine example of such investigations by the artist. At the time of this writing, this is one of only three prints of this image known to exist.