EDMOND VALÈS | LITHAMS (VEILED WOMEN) | ETHNOGRAPHIC ORIENTALISM | DRYPOINT ENGRAVING

A study of gazes and textiles that explores female identity in the Maghreb through the delicacy of the line.

HISTORY AND CURATORIAL ANALYSIS

The Language of the Veil. In this work entitled Lithams , Edmond Valès (1918-2001) undertakes a fascinating exercise in cultural documentation. Far from the exotic or sensualized gaze typical of 19th-century Orientalism, Valès approaches the female figure with the curiosity of an anthropologist and the sensitivity of an artist. The work is a visual compendium of the different ways of wearing the litham , or traditional veil, showing how the same garment can acquire distinct personalities depending on who wears it.

Visual Analysis: The Line as Protagonist Unlike the previous etching (which played with masses of shadow), here Valès opts for drypoint , a more direct and linear technique.

• The Composition: It is not a narrative scene, but a series of studies. The artist distributes five female portraits in the space, creating a visual collage where each face engages in dialogue with the others without competing.

• The Line: The drypoint technique allows for a velvety and rich line. Valès demonstrates exceptional technical mastery in differentiating textures: the rigidity of striped fabrics, the softness of falling folds, and above all, the intensity of the eyes.

• The Gaze: By concealing the mouth and nose, all expressiveness falls on the eyes. Valès ensures that each gaze is unique: some are direct and challenging, others timid or evasive, endowing each woman with individuality despite the veil.

WHY IS THIS PIECE AN OPPORTUNITY?

• Documentary Value: It is a piece that transcends the decorative to become an ethnographic record of traditional clothing that, in many cases, has evolved or disappeared.

• Exquisite Technique: Drypoint is a demanding technique that allows no room for error. The quality of the drawing, especially in the treatment of volumes through crosshatching, is museum-quality.

• Limited Edition: This is copy number 42 of a short run of 150, which guarantees its scarcity.

• Coherent Set: When acquired together with "Night Watchman," it forms a perfect diptych (masculine/feminine, night/day, light/line) that elevates any collection of graphic or Orientalist art. This other work can be found on our website.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Author: Edmond Valès (Signed "E. Valès" in pencil in the lower right corner).

• Title / Subject: Lithams (Study of veiled women).

• Year/Period: 20th Century (c. 1950-70).

• Technique and Support: Drypoint engraving on paper.

• Dimensions: Print/Image: 32.5 x 51.5 cm | Frame: 48.5 x 66.5 cm.

• Edition: 42/150 (Numbered in pencil in the lower left corner).

• Provenance: Private collection.

• Condition: Very good. The paper shows the natural marks of the printing plate (print) and there is some slight oxidation at the edges (outside the image) typical of its age, which certifies its authenticity without affecting the aesthetics of the work.

• Inspection Guarantee: 14-day money-back guarantee to inspect the work in person.

THE WORKSHOP NOTE

This print interested me because it functions as a "field sketch" translated into printmaking. It's not a posed scene, but a comparative study where Valès demonstrates his mastery of drypoint. What's truly remarkable here is his ability to synthesize: look at the central striped headdress. Achieving that volume and that tactile sensation of the fabric using only the direction of the line, with hardly any supporting shadows, is a demonstration of graphic skill that is very rare to find.

Includes Collector's Dossier: This work is delivered accompanied by a technical sheet and historical context prepared and printed by El Taller del Coleccionista, certifying our research.