📜 Exceptional Symbolist Lithograph: "La Bonne Chanson" Illustration! 🖼️

🎨 Artwork Details:

📜 Verlaine's Enchanting Verse Illustrated:

Step into the enchanting world of Paul Verlaine's "La Bonne Chanson" through this extraordinary lithograph by Charles Désiré Berthold-Mahn. This unique piece captures the essence of the first stanza, celebrating love, new seasons, and the joy found in simple moments.

🖋️ Poetry in Visual Harmony:

Immerse yourself in the scene depicted from the poem. A couple, elegantly dressed in late 19th-century fashion, sits on a cozy sofa. With affectionate gazes, they share a moment while holding a book, presumably Verlaine's volume of poems. The expressive faces convey the tenderness and shared secret found in the lines of the "La Bonne Chanson."

🌟 Key Features:

Original Lithograph: Crafted by the artist himself, making it a rare and collectible piece.

Berthold-Mahn's Signature: Authentic signature adds intrinsic value.

Verlaine's Tribute: Illustrates the first stanza of "La Bonne Chanson," paying homage to love and gratitude.

Historical & Cultural Context: Reflects the vibrant atmosphere of late 19th-century Paris, a hub of artistic and literary innovation.

🔍 Artistic Essence:

Berthold-Mahn's realistic and delicate style shines through, capturing the mood and atmosphere with precision. The sketchy yet suggestive backdrop enhances the focus on the couple and their intimate connection.

📜 Historical Significance:

This lithograph not only stands as an artistic creation but also serves as a cultural artifact. Berthold-Mahn's collaboration with Verlaine and contributions to the Symbolist movement are woven into the fabric of this visual masterpiece.

💎 Collectors' Gem:

For collectors and enthusiasts, owning an original lithograph signed by Berthold-Mahn is a testament to the artistry of a bygone era. A true gem that encapsulates the spirit of Symbolism.

🌈 Perfect Gift for:

📖 Literature Lovers: A visual celebration of Verlaine's timeless verses.

💖 Romance Aficionados: Capturing the essence of love and togetherness.

🎨 Art Enthusiasts: Embracing Symbolism's delicate and realistic style.

🛍️ Acquire a Timeless Masterpiece!

This authentic and original lithograph is a window into the soulful verses of Verlaine and the artistic brilliance of Berthold-Mahn. Add a touch of Symbolist magic to your collection. 🖼️📜 #BertholdMahnArtistry #VerlaineSymbolism #LaBonneChanson #CollectibleLithograph #SymbolistEra 🌙🎨

The image is a black and white lithograph, which is a type of printmaking technique that uses a flat stone or metal plate to create an image. The artist draws on the plate with a greasy substance, such as a crayon or ink, and then applies water and ink to the plate. The ink sticks to the greasy areas and repels the water, creating a contrast between the light and dark areas. The plate is then pressed onto a sheet of paper, transferring the image.

The lithograph depicts a scene from Vol 7 of Paul Verlaine’s writings, which is a collection of poems titled Parallèlement (Parallelly). Verlaine was a French poet who was a major figure of the Symbolist movement, which sought to express the inner emotions and sensations of the poet through suggestive images and musical language. Verlaine’s poems often explored themes of love, eroticism, melancholy, and decadence.

The scene in the image is from the poem “La Bonne Chanson” (The Good Song), which is the first poem in the collection. The poem is a tribute to Verlaine’s wife, Mathilde Mauté, whom he married in 1870. The poem expresses the poet’s happiness and gratitude for his beloved, who has brought him peace and joy. The poem is divided into 21 stanzas, each consisting of four lines with a rhyme scheme of ABAB.

The image illustrates the first stanza of the poem, which reads:

Quand viendra la saison nouvelle, Quand auront disparu les froids, Tous les deux nous irons, ma belle, Pour cueillir le muguet aux bois;

(When the new season comes, When the colds have disappeared, We will go, my beauty, To pick the lily of the valley in the woods;)

The image shows a couple sitting on a sofa in a cozy and elegant room. They are holding a book, presumably the volume of Verlaine’s poems, and reading it together. They are dressed in fashionable clothes of the late 19th century, with the woman wearing a long dress and a hat with feathers, and the man wearing a suit and a bow tie. They look at each other with affection and tenderness, as if they are sharing a secret. Their faces are expressive and detailed, while the rest of the image is more sketchy and suggestive.

The image is unique and valuable for several reasons. First, it is an original lithograph, which means that it was made by the artist himself, and not a reproduction or a copy. Original lithographs are rare and collectible, especially if they are signed by the artist. Second, it is a work by Charles Désiré Berthold-Mahn, who was a French artist and illustrator who worked in various media, such as painting, drawing, engraving, and book illustration. He was known for his realistic and delicate style, and his ability to capture the mood and atmosphere of his subjects. He illustrated many books by famous authors, such as Verlaine, Baudelaire, Rimbaud, and Hugo. He was also a friend and collaborator of Verlaine, and he contributed to the artistic and literary magazine La Plume, which promoted the Symbolist movement. Third, it is a representation of a poem by Verlaine, who was one of the most influential and celebrated poets of his time, and whose works are still widely read and admired today. The image captures the essence and spirit of the poem, and creates a visual complement to the verbal expression. The image also reflects the historical and cultural context of the late 19th century, when Paris was a center of artistic and literary innovation and experimentation.

Berthold-Mahn (Charles Désiré)

Paul Verlaine

Parallèlement