ANTONIO SANTOS | TABLE WITH FRUIT (3/25) | ORIGINAL ETCHING | CONTEMPORARY GRAPHIC ART

ANTONIO SANTOS | TABLE WITH FRUIT (3/25) | ORIGINAL ETCHING | CONTEMPORARY GRAPHICS

The poetry of silence and everyday life. A collector's piece that elevates the classic still life through chalcographic mastery and the extraordinary contrast of chiaroscuro.

HISTORY AND CURATORIAL ANALYSIS

The intimacy of the object and "cultured primitivism"

Antonio Santos (Luesia, 1955), winner of the National Illustration Award, is an artist who has made economy of means and honesty of line his greatest expressive virtues. In this original etching, Santos invites us to an exercise in static contemplation. Transforming a domestic corner into a scene of deep psychological intensity, the work pays homage to the tradition of Spanish still life from a rigorously contemporary perspective.

The composition is a display of balance and austerity. A rustic table with a half-open drawer or adorned with a small white handle serves as a secular altar for everyday objects: a bowl overflowing with fruit, an austere white pitcher, and subtle branches that blend with the darkness of the background.

The virtuosity of chiaroscuro and hatching

The etching technique allows for an overwhelming richness of textures here. Through meticulous and dense chalcographic hatching (crossed lines on the metal), Santos plunges the room into a vibrant penumbra. The light, dramatically breaking in from a window or side source on the left, not only sculpts the strong spherical volume of the fruits and ceramics but also casts heavy shadows to the right, imbuing the scene with an undeniable atmosphere of mystery.

WHY IS THIS PIECE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR COLLECTION?

• Radical Exclusivity (Edition 3/25): This is an extremely limited edition. The pencil numbering 3/25 in the lower left margin certifies that only 25 copies of this print exist worldwide, guaranteeing real scarcity in the contemporary graphic art market.

• Bibliophile Support (Vat Paper): The visual impact of the black ink dialogues with the physicality of the support: an extraordinary heavy-weight handmade cotton paper that exhibits immense natural deckled edges around its entire perimeter.

• Depth of the Impression: The pressure of the manual press has left a sharply recessed "plate mark" in the cellulose, a testament to artisanal printing that turns the paper into a sculptural and three-dimensional object.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Author: Antonio Santos (Luesia, Zaragoza, b. 1955).

• Title / Theme: Table with Fruit / Interior Still Life (Contemporary Still Life).

• Technique and Support: Original etching (Chalcography) printed on heavy-weight handmade cotton paper (vat paper) with visible deckled edges.

• Documented Dimensions: Full support: Approx. 36 x 26.5 cm / Plate mark (Graphic area): Approx. 15 x 12 cm.

• Edition and Inscriptions: Copy number 3/25, signed in pencil "ANTONIO SANTOS" in the lower right margin.

• Style / Movement: New Spanish Graphics / Intimate Realism.

• Provenance: Private collection / Gallery stock.

• Condition: Excellent archival quality. The print retains superb contrast between the bold black of the ink and the light reserves. The thick cellulosic support maintains its structural integrity, free from oxidation or damage.

THE WORKSHOP'S NOTE

In contrast to the speed of digital art, etching demands time, acid, and metal. Antonio Santos offers us a visual pause here, demonstrating that a simple bowl of fruit on a table can contain all the solemnity of the world. A graphic jewel of extremely limited edition, indispensable for the collector seeking the perfect communion between master drawing and high paper craftsmanship.

Includes Collector's Dossier: This work comes with a research study, prepared and printed by El Taller del Coleccionista, certifying our curatorship and known provenance.