Adolphe Appian – Fishing Boat – Etching, Signed And Dated

Etching by Adolphe Appian, signed and dated in the plate. Another impression of this engraving is in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.. Unlike the latter, ours is untitled.

In the center of the scene are three boats of varying sizes. On the largest, a sail is unfurled, its whiteness contrasting with the surrounding dark tones (the scene appears to take place at night). Several figures stand out on the decks. The rigging is clearly drawn against the sky. In the background, a rocky coast and a village can be seen. As is typical of Appian, the scene is remarkably composed and creates a dialogue between black and white.

The work, in excellent condition, is signed and dated 1874 in the plate in the upper left corner. It is mounted under glass and placed in a beautiful modern gilt frame, also in excellent condition.

The artist
Adolphe Appian, pseudonym of Jacques Barthélémy Appian, was born in 1818 in Lyon, where he died in 1898. He trained as a painter at the School of Fine Arts in the same city. He worked for a time as a designer of patterns for silks before turning to a more artistic practice. He made his debut at the Salon of 1835 in Paris and exhibited at the Salon of 1847 in Lyon, then regularly at the Salons of both cities from 1855 onwards. He won a gold medal at the Paris Salon in 1868.

In 1852, his meeting with Camille Corot and Jean-François Daubigny had a decisive impact on his career: it was then that he decided to devote himself exclusively to painting and engraving, and adopted the style of the Barbizon School. He made several trips to Fontainebleau, as well as to the Bugey region, the Mediterranean coast, and elsewhere.
He enjoyed success during his lifetime. Napoleon III even bought one of his paintings in 1867. Around the same time, he lightened his palette, which until then had consisted of cool and warm tones.

Adolphe Appian was also a remarkable engraver. He practiced etching with virtuosity, as evidenced by the engravings we are offering. Well before the Impressionists, he produced numerous monotypes.
He was made a Knight of the Legion of Honor in 1892.

Many French museums hold his works (museums in Lyon, Chambéry, Bourg-en-Bresse, Cannes, Montpellier, Cherbourg, Nice, etc.). Appian is also highly regarded in the United States. His works can be found particularly in San Francisco and Cleveland.
Appian's works have been the subject of numerous public auctions and always meet with great success.

Artwork on display at the gallery (07240).
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