JOSEP M.ª DRAPER | INTERIOR WITH BOOKS (BON À TIRER PROOF) | INTIMATE STILL LIFE | ORIGINAL ETCHING

JOSEP M.ª DRAPER | INTERIOR WITH BOOKS (BON À TIRER PROOF) | INTIMATE STILL LIFE | ORIGINAL ETCHING

The absolute standard of chalcographic perfection. A unique "Bon à Tirer" copy depicting an evocative indoor still life, bathed in a masterful play of diagonal light.

HISTORY AND CURATORIAL ANALYSIS

The chalcographic light

In this etching, Catalan master Josep M.ª Draper demonstrates his exquisite sensitivity for intimate composition. The work places us before a work table laden with life: open books, inkwells, scattered fabrics, and a large floral centerpiece. The background is delimited by a classic display cabinet. However, the true visual protagonist of the print is the light: Draper traces powerful diagonals that cross the scene like sunbeams entering through a window, imbuing the composition with a dense and reflective atmosphere.

The genesis of the edition: The definitive B.A.T.

The immense historical and documentary value of this piece lies in its handwritten pencil cataloging in the lower left margin: "Bon a tirer". In the strict hierarchy of original prints, this is the master impression. It represents the moment when the artist, after several tests and adjustments in cleaning the matrix, achieves the perfect balance of chiaroscuro and signs the print to give the order for printing to the workshop. It is the unmovable model that dictates how the entire subsequent edition must be inked.

WHY IS THIS PIECE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR COLLECTION?

• Absolute Rarity (Unique Specimen): By its very technical nature, there is only one Bon à Tirer copy validated per edition. To own this print is to own the "zero piece," the holy grail of the edition, giving the collection an unreachable level of exclusivity compared to numbered commercial graphics.

• Technical Excellence and Contrast: Unlike previous state proofs, this specimen exhibits perfect luminosity. The contrast between the deep blacks of the cross-hatching and the white reserves (ink-free areas) that form the light rays demonstrates a masterful command of printing press pressure.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Artist: Josep M.ª Draper.

• Title / Theme: Interior with books and flowers / The study (Intimate still life).

• Technique and Medium: Original etching on high-grammage cotton paper with natural deckled edges.

• Edition / Cataloging: Master Proof "Bon a tirer" (B.A.T.), handwritten in pencil in the lower left margin. Unique workshop approval copy.

• Signature and Inscriptions: Hand-signed in pencil "Draper" in the lower right corner.

• Dimensions: Support (Paper): 35 x 28.5 cm | Plate mark: Square format (exact millimeter cataloging pending).

• Provenance: Technical archive / Artist's workshop collection.

• Condition: Excellent. Museum quality. Paper free of oxidation, preserving the master contrast and exact depth dictated by the artist on the press.

THE WORKSHOP NOTE

In high-level collecting, the difference between acquiring a numbered print and owning the Bon à Tirer is immense. This piece is not a mere aesthetic representation; it is the exact origin of the work. The dazzling clarity of its diagonal lights and Draper's handwritten cataloging elevate it to the category of a museum asset. An essential acquisition designed for the graphic cabinet that is not satisfied with the commercial edition, but demands to safeguard the creator's standard of perfection.

Includes Collector's Dossier: 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.