CARBONELL | RULL (WOMEN) - RECLINING NUDE | BON À TIRER (B.A.T.) PROOF | ORIGINAL ETCHING

CARBONELL | RULL (GIRLS) - RECLINING NUDE | BON À TIRER (B.A.T.) PROOF | ORIGINAL ETCHING

An exceptional workshop proof with the coveted category of Bon à Tirer (Ready to Print). A print with an intimate atmosphere and undeniable documentary rarity, emerged from the mythical presses of master Masafumi Yamamoto.

HISTORY AND CURATORIAL ANALYSIS

The Lyricism of the Body and the Intimate Atmosphere

This fascinating print corresponds to the first installment of the graphic series "Rull (Noies)", a project conceived in March 1985 as a creative dialogue between the artist Carbonell and the Catalan writer Pep Albanell. In this composition, the author introduces us to a scene of profound stillness and poetic voyeurism: a reclining female nude, in an attitude of placid rest, accompanied by the silent presence of a potted plant. The background, worked with an aquatint of overwhelming density, outlines the pale figure of the young woman, giving the work an almost theatrical chiaroscuro and an undeniable nocturnal magnetism.

The Workshop's Pedigree and Technical Purity

The plate was entirely handcrafted in the legendary Barcelona workshop of master Masafumi Yamamoto, a mandatory stop for art icons such as Antoni Tàpies, Joan Brossa, and Jaume Plensa. The intaglio mark is deep and textured, showing the extremely high contrast between the velvety blacks of the background and the subtlety of the line in the female anatomy during these demanding first passes through the press.

WHY IS THIS PIECE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR COLLECTION?

• Absolute Rarity (The B.A.T. example): In graphic art collecting, the Bon à Tirer (B.A.T.) is the pinnacle of the artisanal process. It is the definitive, exact, and perfect proof that the artist approves and signs in their own hand to give the master printer the green light. Only one B.A.T. exists per edition, which makes this piece a historical document of exclusivity unattainable for the ordinary commercial print run.

• The Imprint of Time (Living Document): For absolute transparency, the work shows a slight chromatic shift (warm tone or light burn) in the central area of the figure. Far from being a defect, it is the tactile confirmation of its nature as a workshop proof: B.A.T.s were often exposed or hung in the printing studio as a constant reference throughout the entire print run. This patina attests to its authenticity as a historical working document.

• Noble Support: Printed on exceptional Vélin Arches 250-gram rag paper. Globally renowned for its immutability, the paper retains its coveted natural deckled edges, giving the piece an undeniable museum-quality weight.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Artist: Carbonell (Engraving from the "Rull" series, with texts by Pep Albanell).

• Title / Theme: Rull (Noies) - First print (Reclining nude).

• Era: March 1985 (Contemporary Art / Poetic Figuration).

• Technique and Support: Original etching and aquatint hand-printed on Vélin Arches 250 grs paper (with intact deckled edges).

• Edition / Print Run: Unique B.A.T. (Bon à Tirer) example. Workshop reference print, not for commercial sale.

• Dimensions: Support (Paper): 44 x 32 cm | Plate mark: 24.5 x 30 cm.

• Signature and Inscriptions: Handwritten annotation "Bon a Tirer" in pencil in the lower left margin and hand-signed by Carbonell in the lower right margin.

• Provenance: Master printer Masafumi Yamamoto's workshop (Barcelona) / Technical archive.

• Condition: Good structural condition, retaining its original deckled edges. Shows an aged patina (light burn or warm shift) in the plate mark area, typical of its exposure as a reference proof in the workshop, certifying its historicity.

THE WORKSHOP'S NOTE

The value of this work lies in that it does not hide its past, but proudly displays it. The light patina on the paper tells the story of the hours this print spent in Yamamoto's workshop guiding the master printer's hand. It is a visually powerful piece, with exquisite contrasts, designed for the erudite collector who seeks to own the intimate and human history behind the creation of a graphic edition.

Collector's Dossier Included: This work comes with an exhaustive research study, technical sheet, and curatorial context prepared and printed by El Taller del Coleccionista, certifying our research and known provenance.