Bernard BOUTET DE MONVEL - Two Men Choosing a Cane

Period	20th century
Origin	France
Medium	Pen, Black ink on papier calque
Dimensions	31.2 x 24.1 cm (12¹/₄ x 9¹/₂ inches)
Gallery	Stephen Ongpin Fine Art

Description
Technical

This drawing is a study for an illustration heading an article entitled ‘La Belle Canne’, written by Eugène Marsan and published in the December 1920 issue of the Gazette du Bon Ton. The article discusses the proper use of the cane, and notes that if one is over 25 years of age, and wishes to have an air of assurance or authority, one needs to have a beautiful cane. Only one in rush, bamboo or rattan will do, however, and while some canes will be curved so to put them on your arm, under no circumstances should one swing a cane by the smaller end, which only a half-wit would do.

Period: 20th century
Origin: France
Medium: Pen, Black ink on papier calque
Signature: Inscribed la Belle canne in black ink in the centre.
Signed with the artist’s monogram BMB in black ink at the lower right.
Inscribed Trait rose / La lettre en Noir in pencil in the upper left margin.
Inscribed les lettres ont de indiquent par [?] 5mm cette planche / du doivent(?) etre en noir / trait rose / I in pencil in the centre.
Inscribed with measurements 12.5 in pencil at the bottom edge and numbered 92i n pencil on the verso.

Dimensions: 31.2 x 24.1 cm (12¹/₄ x 9¹/₂ inches)
Provenance: Among the contents of the artist’s studio in Paris at the time of his death
By descent to the artist’s daughter, Sylvie Boutet de Monvel, Paris,
Literature: Eugène Marsan, ‘La Belle Canne’, Gazette du Bon Ton, December 1920, p.317.
Categories: Paintings, Drawings & Prints