Louis Icart (1888-1955) Art Deco Print

Louis ICART (1888-1955) Art Deco painting print in drypoint and aquatint on vellum paper bearing the handwritten signature of Louis Icart located lower right in the margin, dry stamp on the left, proof of edition "Copyright 1928 by L . Icart Paris "and" Edited by Modern Engravers 194 rue de Rivoli Paris ".. Romantic composition featuring Tosca & Faust after the work of Goethe. Frame in gilded wood and burl veneer. Good general condition, dimensions: 65 cm X 48 cm. Bibliography: William Holland - Clifford Catania - Nathan Isen, Louis ICart The Complete Etchings, Third Edition, Schiffer Publishing Ltd, Atglen, 1990, etchings referenced pp. 166-167. Louis Icart (1888-1950) is a French painter, draftsman, engraver and illustrator. Impressed by his talents as a designer, his aunt took him to Paris: she owned the Maison Valmont, a milliner for the Belle Époque. Louis was soon introduced to illustration circles for the fashion press. He draws for the periodical La Critique théâtrale and for the catalogs of haute couture houses. Trained in printmaking, he presented his original works at the Salon des humoristes: his portraits of women, of "Parisians", began to seduce the public; he is compared to Paul-César Helleu and Manuel Robbe. During the Great War, he was an airplane pilot, went on several air missions but did not stop drawing. In 1920, he exhibited at the Simonson gallery (Paris), then, in 1922, in New York, Belmaison gallery, more than thirty paintings in the art deco style. Following this exhibition, his engravings will experience some success in America until 1932. His work includes more than 500 engravings. He also participated in the illustration of about thirty books, including a good number of erotics. During the Occupation, he composed an engraved series entitled "The Exodus". His work fell into oblivion after the war, but aroused renewed interest when, in the 1970s, some of his early paintings were found in an attic.