Merchant Of Paintings Or Prints By Brouet - Saint Ouen

Rare original etching with a very small edition numbered 21 out of 25, signed in the plate and countersigned in pencil in the margin.
A merchant seated at the foot of a tree, probably at the Saint Ouen flea market, presents a painting to a customer while the latter is leaning towards another. At the foot of the merchant, a painting representing a naked Callipyge woman from behind under the reproving gaze of a bust of a woman without a frame. Other characters on a background of dilapidated houses.
Good condition, tiny foxing in the margins.
Golden baguette frame (damaged glass) 275 mm X 305 mm Sight engraving 135 mm X 175 mm

AUGUSTE BROUET (1872-1941) French draftsman, engraver and illustrator. He was a pupil of Gustave Moreau at the School of Fine Arts in Paris, then of Auguste Delâtre (Engraver, Acquafortist. - Founder, with the printer Cadart, of the Society of Acquafortists) He started engraving in etching, showing himself to be particularly gifted, he exhibited his work at the Venice Biennale in 1910. He was influenced by Rembrandt, from whom he drew strong inspiration for his engraving technique. He draws his subjects from popular circles and in particular from the village of Montmartre. He describes the ordinary life of Parisians, several of his engravings represent open-air markets. He illustrated many works and books, he also engraved the works of painters such as Rembrandt, Turner, Millet, Corot, etc... He died in 1941 at the Bichat hospital, just next to the Saint Ouen flea market which he so often depicted. A posthumous exhibition will be organized at the Drouant-Davis gallery in Paris in 1946.