Auguste Gérardin, Portrait Of A Lady  

AUGUSTE GÉRARDIN
MULHOUSE 1849 – 1933 PARIS

PORTRAIT OF A LADY  


Pencil on paper, signed  “Souvenir amical A. Gérardin”
24 x 19 cm / 9.4 x 7.5 in (framed 37 x 30 cm / 14.6 x 11.8 in)

PROVENANCE
Private collection, France.

This fine graphic portrait is a characteristic example of early 20th century drawing.  The light, elegant style and deft handling of the art form reveal an artist who is incredibly gifted and has a broad artistic outlook.

Auguste Gérardin is one of the greatest French newspaper graphic artists and illustrators of the early 20th century. After solid studies in art, he began working as a draughtsman for woodcuts in numerous reviews and magazines, including Le Monde illustré, where he dealt more specifically with characters and theatrical news. 

In 1893 he became a member of the Société du livre illustré and worked for publishers such as Mame and Édouard Pelletan. At the end of the 19th century he illustrated the works of Paul Verlaine, François Villon, Henri Heine, Victor Hugo and Émile Zola. His compositions were mainly translated into woodcuts by Auguste Lepère and his workshop.

In 1908, an edition of Avant l'amour by Marcelle Tinayre was illustrated by Gérardin


I am grateful to Mr. Brian Keegan and Mr. Alexandre Savinoff for their invaluable assistance in establishing the authorship of this drawing.