Albert Decaris. Horses At The Watering Trough

Albert Decaris (1901-1988) was a prolific artist who, like artists of earlier centuries, specialized in etching. Trained in Cormon's workshop at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, while also a painter, he dedicated his drawing skills to printmaking. He won the Prix de Rome for engraving and went on to study under Albert Besnard at the Villa Medici from 1924 to 1926. His career was divided between illustrating numerous bibliophile editions, particularly classic works, and commissions for philately. He also created large-scale decorative pieces, such as those for the 1937 Exposition, as well as for private clients and public buildings. His style is immediately recognizable; an heir to Piranesi, fascinated by his somber and intricate manner, he brought remarkable power and dynamism to his work. He excels on the large prints he produces in his studio. This engraving is emblematic of his energetic work, capturing the impatience of the horses leaving the stable, the Romanesque architecture, and the geometry of the paving stones. The space is saturated, dense, and vibrant. It is printed on fine, high-quality vellum, numbered 78/140, and signed in pencil by the artist. It also bears the blind stamp of the Association of French Painter-Engravers (founded by Bracquemond), of which Decaris was a member. He would later become a member of the Academy, eventually serving as its president. The engraving is framed in a stainless steel frame typical of the 1970s/80s, fitted with clamping corners. It is in perfect condition.