Jacques Villon Etchings-1959-1963

Jacques Villon Lithographs--1960-1961
This website includes work selected from the 353 etchings, lithographs and paintings on paper, by Jacques Villon, (1875-1963-French) in the collection of Jack Leissring. Villon, born Gaston Duchamp, was the premier 'painter-engraver' of the 20th Century, receiving all of the important French and European awards and honors. He was the eldest brother of Raymond Duchamp-Villon, the sculptor and of Marcel and Suzanne Duchamp, painters. Each print is extensively referenced in the catalog: "Jacques Villon, In the Collection of Jack Leissring," published in 2012 (full color, 783 pages, referenced translations by the author). This page includes lithographs completed during the years 1960-1961, published in 1963, the year of Villon's death. Villon was accorded the honor of Chevalier de la Legion d"Honneur in 1939 and was promoted to Commandeur de la Legion d"Honneur and Commandeur des Arts and Lettres in 1953. He was chosen by Jacqueline Auberty and Charles Peruseaux for the first volume of a series of books on great French painter-engravers. In 1956, Villon was awarded the Grand Prix for painting at the XXVIII Venice Biennale. In 1958, he was awarded the Grand Prize for painting at the Brussels World Fair. In 1961, Galerie Charpentier, Paris, Cent Tableaux de Jacques Villon, gathered works which had been sold world-wide. With this exhibition and its notices, Villon's international reputation was secured. In 1963, he was elected Grand Officer de la Legion d'Honneur. In the years 1959 until his death in 1963, at the age of 87, Villon spent his time divided between his love of painting and his deep love of poetry. During these years he created lithographs and etchings which were included with limited edition books and published as folios. We are fortunate to have in the collection the volumes, the portfolios and many rare proofs of the series of works on paper. The work is now for sale. Additional information on each work supplied upon request. We employ the intermediary of "Pay-Pal" for safety and security for both the buyer and seller.

The limited edition publication of the "Grand Testament of Villon, by Francois Villon, was released in 1963, the year of Villon's death. The publisher, H. Jonquières, signed and numbered the work. We have two editions. The smaller, which is presented here, is an edition of 15 and includes no text on the page--ours is number 1. It is printed upon Japon nacre, and, because of the artist's death, the individual prints were not signed--the title page of each edition is signed by the publisher. Francois Villon wrote this "will" while in jail, for he was a well known renegade.