Paul Balluriau – Le Crépuscule

Technique: Chromolithography (original color printing process)
Date: 1897
Support: Wove paper
Publication: L’Estampe Moderne, Paris
Publishers: Charles Masson & Henri Piazza
Printer: Imprimerie F. Champenois, Paris
Signature and marks: Artist’s signature integrated into the plate; blind stamp of L’Estampe Moderne

Dimensions:
Sheet size: H. 40.9 × W. 30.7 cm
Image size: H. 33 × W. 23 cm

Le Crépuscule is an original chromolithography produced in 1897 by Paul Balluriau and published in the prestigious journal L’Estampe Moderne. The work fully belongs to the fin-de-siècle aesthetic, at the crossroads of Symbolism and Art Nouveau, characteristic of the corpus of this publication.

The scene depicts a procession moving through a rural landscape at dusk. In the foreground, a young couple stands out: a woman wearing a light-colored dress with luminous yellow tones walks with her head slightly inclined, accompanied by a man with a protective demeanor. Their posture suggests an intimate and solemn scene, evoking a traditional wedding, possibly inspired by Breton customs, without constituting a strictly ethnographic representation.

In the background, a group of female figures wearing traditional bonnets progresses along a path, reinforcing the ceremonial and collective character of the scene. A church steeple appears on the horizon, while tall, slender trees structure the composition through vertical lines. The whole is bathed in a soft, crepuscular light, giving the work an atmosphere that is at once melancholic, poetic, and contemplative.

Through its stylized treatment, subtle chromatic harmonies, and sense of decorative rhythm, Le Crépuscule perfectly illustrates Paul Balluriau’s Symbolist sensibility. The artist favors suggestion and emotion over explicit narration, giving the scene a timeless quality, fully in keeping with the spirit of L’Estampe Moderne.

Condition:
Very fine overall condition. Colors are well preserved, fresh, and luminous. The paper shows light, even age-related yellowing. Please note a slight tear at the upper left of the sheet, without affecting the image. No other tears, losses, or visible restorations.
The work is consistent with the original edition. Please always refer to the photographs, which form an integral part of the description, for an accurate assessment of condition.

Observations:
Chromolithography representative of the L’Estampe Moderne corpus, particularly appreciated by collectors of Art Nouveau and fin-de-siècle prints.
An emblematic work of the Symbolist and decorative aesthetic developed by Paul Balluriau at the end of the nineteenth century.