1. At the Beach (Saint Malo)

The studies conducted in the West provided the Romanian artist with the opportunity to encounter the works of the great masters of universal art. Thus, he will adopt in the execution of his works the characteristics of artists such as Paul Cézanne, André Derain, Théodore Rousseau or Othon Friesz. However, his encounter with the Dobrudja vein will remain in the organization of his work as a formative experience. Charmed by the mystery of the East and seduced by the exotic abundance of landscapes, he will travel repeatedly to Constanța, Mangalia or Turtucaia, but also to Balchik or the Bosporus coast. The present work finds the artist again on the seashore, but this time he is practicing his graphic skills. The first sketches of the work date from 1929, the same year in which the artist will produce a broader series of marine views. Sparingly sketched directly on the beach, the works in this series portray the verve and tenacity of the protagonists, the bustle of beach days and endless hours of lazing on the sand. The protagonist of the present work is sketched seated, dressed in a bathing suit, her hair tucked under a bonnet and her body covered by a towel. Behind her, standing, the male character appears with his gaze directed sideways and holding a pipe in his left hand. Their positioning on the edge of the shore, with their backs to the sea, gives us access to the expanse of water, to the sky and the clouds, but also to the ship with white sails floating offshore. Variations of this engraving have participated in various exhibitions over time and were also included in the related catalogs.

References

MIHALACHE, Marin, "Iser", Meridiane Publishing House, Bucharest, 1982. Exhibition catalog "Iser's Journeys", Alina Petrescu, National Museum of Art of Romania Publishing House, Bucharest, 2021.

Dimensions

width 13 cm, height 18 cm

Description

etching and needle engraving, signed lower right, on the plate, "ISER"

Research information

The artwork participated in the exhibition "Graphics in Romanian painting from private collections", National Cotroceni Museum, Bucharest, September 27 - November 11, 2012 and is reproduced in the exhibition catalog on page 30. A version of the work participated in the exhibition "Iosif Iser. The Engraver (1881-1958)", Romanian Academy Library, October 10 - 20, 2018 and is reproduced in the exhibition catalog on page 42, cat. 36. A copy of the engraving is in the collection of Desirée Iser, inv. 79927/332D, under the title "At the bath".

PROVENANCE

The Livia and Mircea Deac Collection.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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