Pigalle Square in 1878
La Place Pigalle en 1878 (original French title)
Etching, aquatint, and drypoint printed in two tones on wove paper, 1878.
Reference: Bourcard & Goodfriend 129 vi/vi.
Trial proof from the final state, the fifth according to Bourcard, and the sixth according to Goodfriend.
The artist notes that the trial proof was pulled as he was effacing the lower right corner. Buhot however never reworked the plate beyond this point.
The tonal difference is subtle, but obvious. The central subjects, from the shuttered building and chatting trio on the left, to the two people leaning into the fountain on the right, are a darker brown. The softer surrounding compositional elements are in a lighter brown, with the exception of the funeral procession in the top right corner.
Signed and annotated "Epreuve d'essai pendant l'effaçage du coin à droite" in pencil.
A very fine impression good, but not great condition. The sheet backed with a thin japan. A tear in the left margin, barely into the plate, and one in the left bottom margin. Mild waviness, top margin. Mild discoloration along a prior mat edge. None of these issues affect the image in earnest, which remains vivid and sharp.
