L’Homme au Chapeau (Man with Hat)

Max Papart (1911 – 1994, France) “L’Homme au Chapeau” (Man with Hat) circa 1970. Limited-edition aquatint etching and color carborundum gravure with collage, hand signed in pencil and inscribed EA (‘Épreuve d'artiste’ is the French word version for 'artist proof'). The cubist/expressionist piece with contrasting colors and textures was done in neutral tones and depicts a profile portrait of a man wearing a hat with a clip from a newspaper, in collage style, appearing to be coming from his mouth. The image is 23 x 16.5 inches, has full margins, and with mat and frame under glass, the work of art measures 32.25 x 25.5 inches. Note that there is some discoloration in the margin at the mat; otherwise, the piece is in apparently good condition.

Max Papart was a French painter and printmaker who is best known for his depictions of circus performers, birds, figures, still lifes, and landscapes in a colorful Cubist style with flat, overlapping planes of contrasting colors and textures. He was a master printmaker who focused on form and structure.