Posted 11 years ago
Roadtoads
(2 items)
I know that at first glance you would say this is a Paul Berthon lithograph of Queen Wilhelmina, it is NOT. It is SO much better. I appoligize that the pictures do not do this piece justice. I have been researching this piece for about 16 years. In the begining of internet surfing all those years ago I found a couple of references but I could tell they were not exactly like mine. Now when I do a search I see dozens of them and with multiple variations, which is confusing. Still none of them are exactly like mine. Her smile is beautiful and you will not find another that has her smile nor will you see the tuft of hair sticking out of her bonnet. I feel bad for all the people who have purchased the lithographs, I feel like they have been taken advantage of. Most all the listings say Original lithograph and I have learned over the years the process but with the vast differences in the variations lead me to believe otherwise. I have seen her with either clouds in the sky or a streaked sky. There are at least three different designs within her bonnet. Although the flowers have the approximate same shape and size they have been located in different proportions to her shoulder. The design on her dress can be thicker or thin and dark or light in color. The signature has also been found in three different positions. And by the way my piece is not signed. I have been recently advised that this piece is not THAT lithograph and that it could have been done by anyone. It was confirmed to have been created in the same period 1901. So, do I look for another artist or is this the original artwork from which the lithographs are based? The frame is carved as an extension of the piece. Even with its damage I know that it is the best example, that I have found, of this subject. I do not think this is a painting because I do not see textures. The surface of the image appears, through the glass, to be completely smooth, I refrain from removing her from the frame. The image is on a thick brown cardboard/pressboard like material. There is no border around the edges. If this a reproduced piece why have I not been able to find another just like it?
I fell in love with this piece when I found it about 35 years ago. And of all place to find such a piece I found it at the local dump. Why or how someone could discard such a wonderful piece I can not imagine. She has provided me with many years of pleasure.
Any information or ideas you can give me will be appreciated.
"Berthon took the imagery developed by Grasset and transformed it, creating a small but characteristic body of work which epitomises the Art Nouveau style on paper"
I just found this information, guess I will look in the direction of Grasset.