Auguste Wahlens (1750-1850)

lot/auguste wahlens 1750 1850 fd557vb 633116055 / For sale

lot/auguste wahlens 1750 1850 fd557vb 633116055

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lot/auguste wahlens 1750 1850 fd557vb 633116055

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Auguste Wahlens (1750-1850)

Circle of Auguste Wahlens (1750-1850) Title: Three studies of historical costumes in Mœurs, usages et costumes de tous les peuples du monde Medium and support: pencil on paper Dimensions: visible picture area 18.5 × 24 cm; with frame 32 × 38 cm Signature: unsigned Dating: undated Provenance: Dutch art collection The sheet shows three full-length female figures, placed side by side against an unfilled background. The left figure is in profile to the right, wearing a tall, ornate headdress, jewelry, and a long skirt with a speckled hip cloth. The middle figure has one arm raised above the head and holds the other hand at the hip. The rotated feet and bent arms form a dancing pose. The right figure wears a composite headdress, neck adornment, and a skirt with floral motifs. She holds a flower to the face and a veil in the hanging hand. Under the figures are French captions: Jeune fille Arabe, Bayadère, Indoustan and Dame javanaise de la haute classe. The portrayal is predominantly grey in tone, with brownish accents on the wristbands of the right figure. Technique and material analysis The pencil drawing consists of defined outlines, short parallel hatching, and locally intensified shadow areas. Variations in line pressure model the faces, limbs, and folds of clothing. Dark accents concentrate in the hair, the speckled hip cloth, and the cast shadows under the figures. The paper remains largely unworked outside the figures. The sheet is mounted behind a light mat in an ornate, gold-colored frame. Composition and form analysis The three figures are distributed across the lying picture plane without overlapping. Their similar scale and the captions give the composition a serial order. The movement of the middle figure contrasts with the more closed poses on either side. Spatial effect is mainly created by modeling and the shadows under the feet; a developed spatial environment is absent. Stylistic and art-historical context The emphasis on contour, body modeling, and individually worked garment details aligns with academic realism and the descriptive tradition of costume illustration. The figures correspond to three separate prints in the Asia and Oceania parts of Mœurs, usages et costumes de tous les peuples du monde, published under the name Auguste Wahlen in 1843. The sheet combines these representations into one composition. Comparable artists Valentijn Bing, Jan Braet von Überfeldt, Henri Hendrickx, Hippolyte Pauquet Condition The paper shows scattered small brownish spots and slight, uneven discoloration. The outlines, hatching, and captions are legible. The frame shows localized wear and small losses in the gilded finish. Conclusion The unsigned and undated sheet comprises three costume studies that substantively align with the nineteenth-century edition of Wahlen. The maker and the function as a preparatory drawing have not been established. The visible condition is characterized by limited staining and discoloration of the paper and localized frame wear. The work "Three Historical Costumes Mœurs, usages et costumes de tous les peuples du monde" is housed in a gilded bronze-gold wooden frame with plaster ornaments Total dimensions: 32x38 cm Visible medium dimensions: 18.5x24 cm All shipments in professional packaging via Fedex, DPD, or PostNL. For all shipments, a surcharge for packing materials applies, which is already included in the stated shipping price. The customer is responsible for any import duties and additional costs that may apply upon delivery abroad. We strive to deliver your artwork safely and in optimal condition, paying careful attention to packaging and shipping procedures. If you have questions or special requests, you can always contact Catawiki customer service. From the moment your purchase is confirmed, we treat every shipment as an individual project. Each painting is carefully packed with high-quality, professional shipping materials, and we select the most suitable carrier based on destination, transit time, and handling requirements. We monitor each package closely until delivery is completed. Because no two artworks are the same, we often create customized, handmade shipping containers or crates tailored to the size, frame, and fragility of the painting, as well as the distance and transport conditions to your address. This guarantees the best possible protection throughout the journey.

Estimate:£255.67

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