Will Simmons - L'Insaisissable The Unattainable

L'Insaisissable (The Unattainable)

Will Simmons's original drypoint engraving, "L'Insaisissable" is printed upon fine, hand-made, laid paper bearing the "Arches" watermark and with full margins as published in New York in the limited edition of fifty in 1923. It is signed by the artist in pencil along the lower margin. "L'Insaisissable" is a truly remarkable work of original art and a fine, original example of the famous wild life art created by the American artist, Will Simmons

L'Insaisissable (The Unattainable)

View other original engravings by Will Simmons.

Will Simmons (Elche, Spain, 1884 - New Milford, CT, 1949)
#	Title & Artist	Medium	Date	Notes	-
01-	The Irish Elk by Will Simmons	Original Drypoint Engraving	1925	Signed and annotated, "first state" in pencil by Will Simmons along the lower margin and also signed by him in the plate, edition of 50 impressions.	Sold
02.-	L'Insaisissable (The Unattainable) by Will Simmons	Original Drypoint Engraving	1923	Signed by Will Simmons in pencil along the lower margin, edition of 50 impressions.	Sold

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Title:	L'Insaisissable (The Unattainable)
Artist:	Simmons, Will (Elche, Spain, 1884 - New Milford, CT, 1949)
Date:	1923
Medium:	Original Drypoint Engraving
Note:	Will Simmons: Perhaps the most accomplished American wildlife artist of the early twentieth century, Will Simmons was born in an artist's colony in Spain. He received his first lessons from his father, Edward Simmons, a well known mural and history painter. He was then sent to Boston to receive an academic education at Harvard University. Such studies, however, did not agree with Simmons and within a year he became an art student at the Julian Academy in Paris. His hours at the Academy were further supplemented by prolonged visits to the Natural History Museum and to various zoos.
	Upon his return to America, Will Simmons first was introduced to etching and engraving by the artist, John Marin. His first published etchings, aquatints and drypoint engravings date from 1911. It was not until 1920, however, that Simmons directed most of his efforts to these graphic mediums. In particular, Simmons was considered a master of the drypoint engraving, where the thick, velvety tones of the burr were employed to depict his famous studies of monkeys, bears, moose, birds and other animals with both accuracy and imagination.
	Will Simmons was a full member of the Chicago Society of Etchers, the Brooklyn Society of Etchers and of the California Printmakers. His original prints and drawings are included in many major American collections but the Smithsonian Institution in Washington owns the most extensive collection of his art.
	In total, Will Simmons created slightly over two hundred and fifty original prints dealing with wildlife. All his engravings were published in small editions of fifty or less. Within his complete artistic oeuvre, L'Insaisissable is regarded as his most famous and desirable work of art. One critic wrote, "At the outset of his career his fame was closely associated with his delineation of the monkey clan. Of these celebrated prints, 'L'Insaisissable' is outstanding. Drollery pervades this drypoint of two monkeys with tails affectionately entwined, looking with wistful yearning toward a gigantic butterfly hovering over them. The idea of this quaint conceit is the unattainable -- illusions, which we can't quite comprehend, are ever just before us." * L'Insaisissable is simply one of the greatest works of natural history art created during the twentieth century (Dorothy Pletcher, "Wild Life Etchings of Will Simmons", The Print Connoisseur, New York, April, 1930, Vol. 10, #2, pp. 99 - 123).
Edition:	Limited edition of fifty impressions.
Size:	10 3/4 X 4 3/4 (Sizes in inches are approximate, height preceding width of plate-mark or image.)
	Framed and Matted with 100% Archival Materials
Condition:	Printed upon fine, hand-made, laid paper bearing the "Arches" watermark and with full margins as published in New York in the limited edition of fifty in 1923. A superbly printed impression bearing the full burr of the drypoint and in excellent condition throughout. Signed by the artist in pencil along the lower margin. A more famous example of the wild life art of Will Simmons will not be found. L'Insaisissable is a truly remarkable work of original art.
Price:	Sold - The price is no longer available.
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