émile Berchmans – Renouveau

Technique: Original chromolithography
Date: 1897
Support: Wove paper
Publication: L’Estampe Moderne, Paris
Publishers: Charles Masson & Henri Piazza
Printer: Imprimerie Ferdinand Champenois, Paris
Signature and marks: Artist’s signature integrated into the plate; blind stamp of L’Estampe Moderne
Dimensions:
Sheet size: H. 39.9 × W. 30.6 cm
Image size: H. 37.5 × W. 16.5 cm

Renouveau is an original chromolithography produced in 1897 by Émile Berchmans for the prestigious publication L’Estampe Moderne. The work fully belongs to the fin-de-siècle aesthetic, at the intersection of Symbolism and Art Nouveau, which defines the corpus of this journal.

The composition presents an elongated female figure treated in an allegorical manner, whose posture and movement evoke themes of renewal and regeneration. Set against a restrained and stylized background, the figure acquires a strong symbolic presence. The flowing lines, elegant draftsmanship, and stylization of forms give the work a refined decorative harmony.

Through its poetic visual language and symbolic approach, Renouveau perfectly illustrates Berchmans’s Symbolist sensibility. The artist favors suggestion and emotional resonance over explicit narration, fully aligning the work with the artistic spirit and decorative ambition of L’Estampe Moderne.

Condition:
Good overall condition. Colors are well preserved, fresh, and luminous. The paper shows light, even age-related yellowing. No tears, losses, or visible restorations. Please always refer to the photographs, which form an integral part of the description, for an accurate assessment of condition.

Observations:
Chromolithograph representative of the L’Estampe Moderne corpus, highly appreciated by collectors of Art Nouveau and fin-de-siècle prints.
An emblematic example of the Symbolist and decorative aesthetic developed by Émile Berchmans at the end of the nineteenth century.