JOSEP M.ª DRAPER | COMPOSITION (STILL LIFE WITH SIFON) | BON À TIRER PROOF | ORIGINAL ETCHING

JOSEP M.ª DRAPER | COMPOSITION (STILL LIFE WITH SIFON) | BON À TIRER PROOF | ORIGINAL ETCHING

The crowning jewel of intaglio printing. A unique piece cataloged as "Bon à Tirer" which displays a masterful indoor still life printed in sepia ink, directly approved by the artist as the absolute standard of perfection.

HISTORY AND CURATORIAL ANALYSIS

Intimate Costumbrismo and the Warmth of Sepia

In this superb print, the Catalan master Josep M.ª Draper opens the doors to a rich interior still life. The composition is a display of spatial mastery: the viewer's gaze is guided from the table in the foreground—where cups, a teapot, and a classic mesh siphon rest—to a secretaire in the background crowned by a classical bust and a floral arrangement. The dizzying checkered floor and powerful diagonal shadows create a dense and nostalgic atmosphere. On a technical level, the great success of this piece is the choice of sepia or sanguine ink, which gives the intaglio framework exceptional warmth and visual vibration, moving away from the harshness of traditional black.

The Genesis of the Edition: The Institutional B.A.T.

The immense documentary value of this work lies in its cataloging: it is the "Bon à tirer" (B.A.T.) proof, signed in pencil in the lower left margin. In the rigorous hierarchy of engraving, this is the master and definitive print that the artist signs to give the printing order to the workshop. It is the unalterable model of inking and pressure for the entire subsequent edition. In this case, the work acted as the quality standard for one of the historical editions commissioned by the patronage of Banca Mas Sardà, which makes it a living fragment of the history of corporate collecting in the 80s.

WHY IS THIS PIECE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR COLLECTION?

• Absolute Rarity (Unique Specimen): By its very nature, there is only one Bon à Tirer specimen per edition. It is the "zero piece," giving the collector a level of technical exclusivity unattainable with numbered commercial graphics.

• Chromatic Richness and Perspective: The use of sepia ink provides a distinctive aesthetic value, accentuating the interplay of light, shadow, and perspective (such as the hypnotic checkered floor) with a resounding classical elegance.

TECHNICAL DATA SHEET

• Author: Josep M.ª Draper.

• Title / Theme: Composition / Interior still life with siphon and bust.

• Technique and Support: Original etching (printed in sepia ink) on high-grammage cotton paper with natural deckled edges.

• Edition / Cataloging: Master Proof "Bon à 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 impression: Landscape format (exact cataloging in millimeters pending).

• Provenance: Technical archive / Workshop collection (Edition linked to the historic Banca Mas Sardà).

• Condition: Excellent. Museum quality. Intact paper, free of oxidation, preserving the master contrast dictated by the artist on the printing press.

THE WORKSHOP'S NOTE

At the pinnacle of graphic collecting, the Bon à Tirer has no rival. This print is not a mere copy; it is the physical contract of technical demand signed between the creator and the master printer. The choice of sepia tone and the impeccable contrast of the diagonal shadows defined the level of excellence that Banca Mas Sardà demanded for its art collections. A piece of erudition, strictly unique, conceived for the graphic cabinet seeking to treasure the undeniable origin of a historic edition.

Includes Collector's Dossier: This work is delivered with a comprehensive research study, technical data sheet, and curatorial context prepared and printed by El Taller del Coleccionista, certifying our research and known provenance.