Description
This is an original 1897 lithograph from L’Image (Revue Littéraire et Artistique), one of only 100 copies ever printed, making it an exceptionally rare Art Nouveau publication and highly sought after by serious collectors. L’Image was an influential French literary and artistic revue that showcased the finest decorative talents of the Belle Époque, and this issue exemplifies the movement’s aesthetic at its peak.
The composition features a striking central image of a hand holding an engraving tool or paintbrush, rendered in bold woodblock style characteristic of the era’s experimental printmaking. The hand is framed by radiating lines suggesting artistic energy and creative output, flanked by elegant Art Nouveau decorative borders with organic flourishing forms on both the left and right edges. This iconographic approach—celebrating the artist’s hand and tools—perfectly captured the period’s reverence for craftsmanship and artistic authenticity.
Henri Bellery-Desfontaines was a prominent illustrator and revue artist during this period, known for his refined decorative sensibility and contributions to France’s most prestigious literary publications. His signature “BELLERY” appears vertically in the plate along the left edge of the central image, a distinctive practice he employed for this particular work.
The lithographic process used here—direct stone printing—represents the gold standard of vintage poster production, prized by collectors for its rich tonal depth and authentic period character impossible to replicate in modern reproductions.
Originally created as an unbacked lithographic poster, this example has been professionally conservation-backed with archival-quality linen mounting to ensure long-term preservation and ready-to-frame presentation. Condition is excellent to mint, with only the most minor handling wear at edges consistent with period storage. This is an authenticated original, professionally preserved, and backed by a Certificate of Authenticity—essential documentation for serious collectors investing in rare vintage art.
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