Adolphe Willette (Adolphe-Leon Willette)

Pierrot Pendu (Pierrot Hanged)

Adolphe Willette's original lithograph, "Pierrot Pendu" (Pierrot Hanged) is perhaps his most famous work of lithographic art. A victim of unreturned love, "Pierrot" has taken his life. Unaware of this recent tragedy, the brazen object of his unfortunate affection walks blithely past and is about to trod upon the now extinguished candle lying on the ground. (The viewer may fill in his own symbolic analysis here!) Simply, Adolphe-Leon Willette's "Pierrot Pendu" is an unforgettable comment upon love and passion and of the possible consequences.

This original lithograph is printed upon fine, hand-made mulberry paper and with large, full margins as published in Paris in 1894. It is signed in the stone and it is also signed by Adolphe-Leon Willette with his characteristic This impression bears the Estampe Originale blind stamp along the extreme lower left margin. This is a prime and scarce example of both the art created by the French artist, Adolphe Leon Willette and of the famous publication, Estampe Originale. The 'Brooklyn Museum' lists another impression of Pierrot Pendu (Pierrot Hanged), by Adolphe Willette in their collection.

Original Lithograph by the French artist, Adolphe Willette 'Adolphe-Leon Willette'.

Pierrot Pendu (Pierrot Hanged)

View other original lithographs by Adolphe Willette.

Adolphe Willette (Chalons-sur-Marne, 1857 - Paris, 1926)
#	Image	Title & Artist	Medium	Date	Notes
01-		L'Enfant Prodigue by Adolphe Willette (Adolphe-Leon Willette)	Original Lithographic Poster	1890	Signed in the stone by Adolphe Willette and bearing the official 'Affiches' ('Prints') stamp in the upper left margin.
02.-		Pierrot Pendu (Pierrot Hanged) by Adolphe Willette (Adolphe-Leon Willette)	Original Lithograph	1894	Singed and numbered by Adolphe Willette in 'Blue pencil'. First and Only State as Published in the Limited Edition of 100 Impressions
03.-		Sweet Dessert by Adolphe Willette (Adolphe-Leon Willette)	Original Lithograph	c. 1891	Singed by Adolphe Willette in 'Blue pencil'.

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Title:	Pierrot Pendu (Pierrot Hanged)
Artist:	Willette, Adolphe-Leon 'Adolphe Willette' (Chalons-sur-Marne, 1857 - Paris, 1926)
Date:	1894
Medium:	Original Lithograph
Editor:	Andre Marty, Paris
Printer:	Bellfond & Co., Paris
Note:	Adolphe Willette 'Adolphe-Leon Willette': One of France's most remarkable artists of the legendary Art Nouveau era, Adolphe Leon Willette studied art under Cabanel at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. He first exhibited his art at the Paris Salon in 1881 and became a regular contributor to major French exhibitions from 1887 onwards. During the 1890's, Adolphe Willette achieved great fame as a versatile lithographer, painter, illustrator, poster artist and caricaturist. He also emerged as a major writer and editor in the Leftist press. In 1906, Willette achieved the highest honour for a French artist when he was appointed Chevalier de la Legion d'honneur.
	As an original lithographic artist,Adolphe Leon Willette was a master of both social satire and character study. He was, in fact, commissioned by the prestigious L'Estampe Originale to submit lithographs in 1893, 1894 and 1895, along with such other artists as Whistler, Renoir, Redon, Toulouse-Lautrec and Pissarro. Pierrot Pendu (Pierrot Hanged), was Adolphe Willette's contribution for 1894. During the Art Nouveau decade (1890-1900) Adolphe Leon Willette was one of the most frequently sought after artists by Paris publishers for his lithographic posters and prints.
	Adolphe Willette's finest art was most often linked with the legendary figures of Pierrot and Pierrette. (He even founded a short lived periodical entitled, Pierrot!) Pierrot was a major character in classic comedia del arte and was traditionally close to the heart of French culture. He appeared in many of Moliere's dramas and was depicted in the seventeenth century etchings of Callot and the eighteenth century paintings of Watteau. Adolphe Willette, however, took this classic figure and brilliantly utilized him for all sorts of social situations and settings.
	"Pierrot Pendu" (Pierrot Hanged), is perhaps Adolphe Willette's most famous work of lithographic art. A victim of unreturned love, "Pierrot" has taken his life. Unaware of this recent tragedy, the brazen object of his unfortunate affection walks blithely past and is about to trod upon the now extinguished candle lying on the ground. (The viewer may fill in his own symbolic analysis here!) Simply, "Pierrot Pendu" is an unforgettable comment upon love and passion and of the possible consequences.
Source:	L'Estampe Stampe Originale
	L'Estampe Originale: Of all the fine print portfolios published at the end of the nineteenth century, L'Estampe Originale must rank as the greatest. Directed by Andre Marty, L'Estampe published a total of ninety-five original prints from 1893 through 1895. Each lithograph, etching or woodcut was printed under the direct supervision of the artist and then signed and numbered by his hand in an edition of 100 impressions. This marked the first time in the graphic arts that prints were consistently hand signed and limited. Furthermore each print bore the blind stamp of L'Estampe Originale in the lower margin.
	Not the least amazing quality of L'Estampe Originale was the array of superb artists who contributed. Albert Besnard, Pierre Bonnard, Eugene Carriere, Jules Cheret, Walter Crane, Maurice Denis, Fantin-Latour, Paul Gaugin, Eugene Grasset, Paul Hellue, Henri-Gabriel Ibels, Auguste Lepere, Sir William Nicholson, Camile Pissarro, Puvis de Chavannes, Odilon Redon, Pierre Renoir, Paul Signac, Henri Toulouse-Lautrec, Felix Vallotton, Edouard Vuillard, James Abbot McNeil Whistler and Adolphe Willette were all commissioned for the publication. Most of the artists were invited only to contribute one work of art while a smaller number produced two. Only three artists were commissioned by Marty to create original prints for each of the three yearly issues. Interestingly, they were Albert Besnard, Toulouse-Lautrec and Adolphe Willette.
Collections:	Today, the art of Adolphe-Leon Willette's can be found in major private and public collections, such as the Louvre, Paris, France, the 'Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) ', UK, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY, the Mills College Art Museum, Oakland, California the 'University Library of Illinois' at Urbana-Champaign, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and many other important institutions. The 'Brooklyn Museum' lists another impression of Pierrot Pendu (Pierrot Hanged), by Adolphe Willette (Adolphe Leon Willette), published in 1894 in their permantent collection, Accession Number: 38.393.
Raisonne:	Donna Stein & Donald Karshan, L'Estampe Originale: A Catalogue Raisonne, Museum of Graphic art, New York, 1970. Catalogue #60 (Illustrated), First and Only State as Published in the Limited Edition of 100 Impressions in 1894 by L'Estampe Originale.
Size:	11 1/2 X 7 1/2 (Sizes in inches are approximate, height preceding width of plate-mark or image.)
	Framed and Matted with 100% Archival Materials
	View larger Framed Image

Buy Now	Price: $985.00 US
Condition:	Printed upon fine, hand-made mulberry (rice) paper and with large, full margins as published in Paris in 1894. Containing a horizontal crease mark under Willette's signature, else a beautiful tonal printing and in excellent condition throughout. Signed in the stone (lower left margin) and signed by Willette with his characteristic blue pencil and numbered '53' (of 100) in the lower right margin. Also bearing the Estampe Originale blind stamp along the extreme lower left margin. Pierrot Pendu represents a prime and scarce example of both the art of Adolphe Willette and of the famous publication, Estampe Originale.
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