ART-061 James Coignard — "Silhouette," Original Carborundum Etching, 55/75, Signed in Pencil, Moulin de Larroque Paper

James Coignard (French, 1925–2008)
Silhouette
Original Carborundum Etching | Edition 55/75 | Signed in Pencil: J. Coignard
Printed on Moulin de Larroque Paper | 22 in. × 18 in. (56 × 46 cm)

A striking original carborundum etching by James Coignard — one of the foremost French printmakers of the postwar era and widely regarded as among the supreme masters of the carborundum technique. This numbered impression (55/75) is signed in pencil by the artist and printed on Moulin de Larroque paper, a storied artisanal French paper mill whose handmade sheets have been favored by master printmakers for generations. The combination of Coignard's richly textured carborundum technique and this distinguished paper support produces the characteristic sculptural, tactile quality that has made his prints so highly sought-after by collectors worldwide.

Born in Tours, France in 1925, Coignard trained at the École des Arts Décoratifs in Nice and spent his career working on the French Riviera, in Paris, and internationally. A painter, ceramist, sculptor, and printmaker, he came to international prominence following his 1968 introduction to the carborundum etching technique developed by his friend Henri Goetz — a process that allowed him to build extraordinary depth, texture, and color into his prints in a way impossible through conventional intaglio methods. Goetz had introduced the technique to a small circle that included Joan Miró and Antoni Clavé; Coignard became its greatest virtuoso.

His work entered the collections of over twenty major museums, including the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York and the Bibliothèque Nationale de France in Paris. He exhibited internationally throughout his career — particularly in Scandinavia, the United States, and France — and died in Mougins on the French Riviera in 2008. His prints continue to be actively collected, with gallery prices typically ranging from $500 to $3,500 for signed, numbered impressions such as this one.

Details:

• Artist: James Coignard (French, 1925–2008)
• Title: Silhouette
• Medium: Original carborundum etching
• Edition: 55/75
• Paper: Moulin de Larroque (handmade, period)
• Dimensions: 22 in. × 18 in. (56 × 46 cm)
• Signature: Signed in pencil lower right: J. Coignard
• Condition: Please review all photos carefully

A museum-quality impression from one of France's most celebrated postwar printmakers — signed, numbered, and on exceptional Moulin de Larroque paper.