CARBONELL | RULL (GIRLS) - NUDE WITH HAIR UP | 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 Bon à Tirer (Ready for Printing) category. A print of profound visual introspection and absolute rarity, originating from the mythical presses of master Masafumi Yamamoto in Barcelona.

HISTORY AND CURATORIAL ANALYSIS

The lyricism of the body and chalcographic depth

This captivating print is part of the acclaimed graphic series "Rull (Noies)," conceived in March 1985 as a creative dialogue between the artist Carbonell and the Catalan writer Pep Albanell. In this composition, Carbonell offers us a female nude of formidable vulnerability and poetry. The figure is curled up on herself, almost in a fetal position, floating or resting on a overwhelmingly dense background. The artist uses the aquatint technique to create a nocturnal, textured universe that embraces the young woman, achieving a dramatic and beautiful contrast with the pallor of the naked skin that breathes through the white of the paper.

Workshop pedigree and technical purity

The execution of this plate is superb and was carried out entirely by hand in the mythical Barcelona workshop of master Masafumi Yamamoto. The works of great contemporary art figures passed through his presses, collaborating closely with creators such as Antoni Tàpies, Joan Brossa, and Jaume Plensa. The impression of the plate is deep and bold, demonstrating the rigor, freshness, and extremely high level of demand in these initial passes, where velvety blacks reach their maximum expression.

WHY IS THIS PIECE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR COLLECTION?

• Absolute Rarity (The B.A.T. print): In fine art print 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 by hand to give the master printer the green light. It serves as an unchangeable model for the entire edition. Since only one B.A.T. exists per edition, this piece is a historical document of exclusivity unattainable for an ordinary commercial run.

• Printing Quality: The intensity of the dark inks and the delicacy of the lines in the human figure demonstrate outstanding technical mastery. It is a high-contrast piece that captures the eye.

• Noble Support: Printed on exceptional 250-gram Vélin Arches mould-made paper. Globally recognized for its immutability, the paper retains its coveted natural deckled edges and immaculate whiteness, giving the piece a museum-quality physical weight.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

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

• Title / Theme: Rull (Girls) - Reclining nude.

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

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

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

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

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

• Provenance: Workshop of master printer Masafumi Yamamoto (Barcelona) / Technical Archive.

• Condition: Excellent. Museum conservation, no oxidation spots, maintaining the original purity and texture of the Arches paper.

THE WORKSHOP'S NOTE

The value of this work transcends its undeniable aesthetic beauty to encapsulate an unrepeatable moment in the noble craft of engraving. To behold the "Bon a Tirer" written in pencil beneath those deep blacks is to hold the artist's final decision in one's hands. It is an intimate and powerful print that demands to be admired up close, ideal for purist collectors seeking to possess the very seed from which the entire edition germinated.

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