Apr 28, 2022 - Sale 2602

Sale 2602 - Lot 228

Price Realized: $ 1,000
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 1,500 - $ 2,500
JEAN-FRANÇOIS MILLET
Le Bêcheur au travail.

Woodcut on tissue-thin cream laid paper, 1863. 141x106 mm; 5 1/2x4 1/8 inches, full margins. First state (of 2), before the removal of the background. A superb impression of this extremely scarce woodcut.

We have found only 3 other impressions at auction in the past 30 years.

According to Melot, Millet (1814-1875) created this woodcut to illustrate an unrealized edition of Theocritus. This is one of only 3 or 4 known woodcuts by Millet; the current woodcut is the most complete and developed subject in this medium by the artist. Delteil 31; Melot 31.