JOSEP M.ª DRAPER | SEASCAPE (BON À TIRER PROOF) | MEDITERRANEAN CLASSICISM | ORIGINAL ETCHING

JOSEP M.ª DRAPER | MARITIME SCENE (BON À TIRER PROOF) | MEDITERRANEAN CLASSICISM | ORIGINAL ETCHING

The genetic code of graphic creation. A unique piece cataloged as "Bon à Tirer" that blends the aesthetic of Mediterranean classicism with the technical rigor of the workshop, including master Draper's original handwritten instructions.

HISTORY AND CURATORIAL ANALYSIS

The echo of Noucentisme and the light of the Mediterranean

This magnificent intaglio print by the Catalan master Josep M.ª Draper transports us to a deeply Mediterranean and timeless scene. The composition shows a group of nude and semi-nude figures working with their backs to the viewer, gathering nets and ropes alongside classic boats beached on the shore. Under a sky crossed by the rhythmic flight of seagulls and in front of a mountainous horizon, Draper's vibrant and expressive line connects directly with the aesthetic heritage of classicism and Catalan Noucentisme, elevating the daily labor of fishermen to the category of visual myth.

The genesis of the edition: The demand of the "Bon à Tirer"

The immense historical weight of this work lies in its workshop cataloging. In the lower left margin, the print has been validated in pencil as "Bon a tirer" (the definitive master proof that authorizes the printing of the edition). However, the absolute genius and rarity of this piece is hidden in its lower central margin, where Draper adds a final handwritten instruction for his printer: "It will be cleaner". This valuable notation reveals the author's technical demands, who requests a more thorough cleaning (wiping) of the plate in areas such as the sky and sea to remove the superficial ink veil, seeking to maximize the luminosity and pure whites of the paper in the final commercial edition.

WHY IS THIS PIECE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR COLLECTION?

• Documentary Rarity (The B.A.T. copy): In the original print market, there is only one Bon à Tirer copy per edition. It is the intaglio "Rosetta Stone." By also containing a handwritten correction that alters the final result, we are faced with an object of technical study of unattainable exclusivity compared to ordinary numbered prints.

• The Author's Intimate Mark: To own a work that includes the autograph signature "Draper" along with his direct workshop orders is to possess a tangible piece of contemporary art history and the creator's critical thought about his own work.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Artist: Josep M.ª Draper.

• Title / Theme: Figures by the boats (Customary maritime scene).

• Technique and Support: 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.

• Historical Peculiarity: Includes the original technical instruction in pencil "Quedará + limpio" (It will be cleaner) in the artist's own hand in the lower central margin. Bon a tirer.

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

• Dimensions: Support (Paper): 35 x 28.5 cm | Plate mark: Landscape format (exact cataloging in millimeters pending).

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

• Condition: Excellent. Museum quality. Intact paper, free of oxidation, preserving the exact inking veil that the artist evaluated and corrected at the press.

THE WORKSHOP NOTE

In the graphic art market, acquiring a print is common; acquiring the exact moment of its creation is a privilege reserved for a few. Draper's handwritten instruction —"Quedará + limpio" (It will be cleaner)— is not a simple note; it is a testament to the pursuit of perfection that defined all subsequent editions. This piece transcends the purely aesthetic to become an invaluable document, conceived exclusively for the erudite collector who demands to possess the purity, rigor, and intimate history of the intaglio process.

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.