Salomon van Abbé

Original Salomon van Abbé drypoint.

Presentation proof - an excellent impression with the drypoint burr printing strong and fresh. Inscribed by the artist in pencil to a friend and dated 1932.

The Plaintiff’s Case, as with all of Salomon van Abbé’s legal prints, was not intended as a portrait of particular individuals, but was designed as a characterisation of the legal procedure in general and of the parts played out by each figure involved. Salomon van Abbe had developed his skills as a portrait artist through the teaching of W.P. Robins but had developed a penetrating wit in his depiction of characters which was in parallel with that of his friend and relative, the famous Jersey artist and printmaker, Edmund Blampied. The two artists had been close friends since their student days together at Bolt Court and Blampied had gone on to marry van Abbé’s sister in 1914. It was through his splendid drypoint portraits of legal subjects, in particular, that Salomon van Abbé established his lasting fame.

On cream laid paper with full margins and deckle edge. Mottled time tone to sheet, otherwise very good original condition.