1039

About this artwork

Verschenen in album met tien originele prenten bij tijdschrift: L'Epreuve, december 1894, prent nr. 10

Art Historical Context

Maurice Dumont’s 1894 etching, simply titled 1039, exemplifies the intimate scale and refined technique favored by printmakers at the close of the nineteenth century. Measuring just 85 by 80 millimeters, the small plate invites close viewing, rewarding the observer with delicate lines and subtle tonal gradations characteristic of the etching process. Created during a period when original prints were gaining new appreciation as independent works of art, the piece reflects the era’s interest in craftsmanship and limited-edition multiples. This etching appeared as the tenth and final plate in an album of ten original prints published to accompany the December 1894 issue of the French journal L’Épreuve. The album was conceived to showcase contemporary printmaking to a broader audience, uniting diverse artists in a single, collectible portfolio. By contributing to this venture, Dumont participated in a vibrant movement that elevated etching from a reproductive medium to a vehicle for personal expression. Today, the work offers a quiet window onto fin-de-siècle print culture, where modest dimensions and meticulous technique combined to create art meant for thoughtful contemplation rather than grand display.