Black & Moorehead 71. Edition 30, only 16 known impressions, trial proof. Signed, titled, dated, and inscribed Essai (test) in pencil.

Image size 10 9/16 x 7 5/8 inches (268 x 194 mm); sheet size 15 1/2 x 11 1/2 inches (394 x 292 mm).

A superb proof impression, with rich burr, on heavy BFK Rives off-white wove paper; full margins (2 1/4 to 6 1/4 inches). A short repaired tear (3/8 inch) in the left center sheet edge, well away from the image, otherwise in excellent condition. Scarce.

$2400.

Black & Moorehead 154. Edition 30, 5 artist's proofs. Signed, titled, dated, and numbered13/30 in pencil.

Image size 12 3/16 x 21 11/16 inches (310 x 551 mm); sheet size 15 x 25 1/4 inches (381 x 641 mm).

A superb, richly textured impression, on Cranach heavy cream wove paper with full margins (1 to 1 3/4 inches). Barely visible toning in the outside margins, well away from the image, otherwise in excellent condition. Scarce.

Published by Marian Williard Gallery, New York. Plate in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.

Exhibited and reproduced: American Identities: Twentieth-Century Prints fron the Nancy Gray Sherrill, Class of 1954, Collection; Davis Museum and Cultural Center, Wellesley College; 2004.

According to Roman legend, Laocoön was the Trojan priest who warned his countrymen against accepting the Trojan Horse from the Greeks. His warning unheeded, Laocoön threw his spear at the Horse in anger. Minerva, Goddess of warriors, who was supporting the Greeks, immediately sent sea-serpents to strangle Laocoön and his two sons in retribution. His death is symbolic of the fall of the city as a whole. The legend is also the subject of Michangelo’s famous sculpture of the same name.

Collections: British Council Collection; British Museum; Davis Museum, Wellesley College; Metropolitan Museum of Art; Museum of Fine Arts Boston; Museum of Modern Art; University of Virginia Art Museum.

SOLD

Black & Moorehead 167. Edition c. 100.

Signed, dated 45 and annotated for Letterio Calapai all the best for 46 in pencil.

Image size 4 3/8 x 3 1/16 inches (111 x 78 mm); sheet size 6 5/8 x 4 7/8 inches (168 x 124 mm).

A superb, richly-inked impression with skillfully controlled plate tone on pale buff heavy wove paper, in good condition.

$800.

Black & Moorehead 184. Edition c. 100.

Signed, dated 47 and annotated for Delia & Leo all the best, Bill (back) in pencil. The complete four-sided greeting card with centerfold.

Image size 4 1/8 x 3 inches (105 x 76 mm); front cover size 6 1/2 x 5 inches (165 x 127 mm).

A superb, richly-inked impression with skillfully controlled plate tone on pale buff heavy wove paper, in good condition.

$800.

Black & Moorehead 189. Edition c. 100, first and third (final) state impressions.

First state impression signed and annotated 1st State and for Leo, in pencil. Scarce.

Image size 3 7/8 x 3 9/16 inches (98 x 90 mm); sheet size, 1st state, 7 3/8 x 5 5/16 inches (187 x 135 mm).

A fine, richly-inked impression with plate tone on cream wove paper, in good condition.

Third state (final) impression, signed and dated 48 in pencil.

Image size 3 7/8 x 3 9/16 inches (98 x 90 mm); sheet size 7 x 5 11/16 inches (178 x 144 mm).

A fine, richly-inked impression with plate tone on cream wove paper; slight skinning in the top left margin, verso, otherwise in excellent condition.

$1600.

Black & Moorehead 197. Edition 200, 1 of 12 artist's proofs. Signed and inscribed Epreuve d'Artiste II/XII and Pour Nesto Gacometti avec amitié in pencil.

Image size 15 7/16 x 9 7/16 inches (392 x 240 mm); sheet size 22 1/4 x 15 inches (565 x 381 mm).

A superb impression, with fresh colors, on handmade Arches cream wove paper; full margins (2 3/4 to 4 inches), in excellent condition.

Printed by Hayter and Atelier 17. Published by La Guilde Internationale de la Gravure, Geneva.

Collections: Baltimore Museum of Art, British Museum, Yale University Art Gallery.

$3500.

Feu Sous l'Eau (Fire Under Water) =1955, Engraving, soft-ground etching, and scorper, with yellow silkscreen onto the plate.

B&M 221. Edition 50, plus 10 artist proofs. Signed, titled Fire Under Water, dated and annotated Essai in pencil. Dedicated in the artist’s hand for Adja and Dore WH Bill 17–5–55 in the top margin. Hayter gifted this proof impression to the artist Adja Yunkers and his wife, the art critic, Dore Ashton.

Image size 10 3/16 x 7 inches (259 x 178 mm); sheet size 18 1/8 x 12 1/4 inches (460 x 318 mm).

A superb, richly-inked impression with fresh colors, on heavy cream wove paper, with wide margins (2 1/2 to 3 7/8 inches), in excellent condition.

One of 10 artist proofs. Published by La Jeune Gravure Contemporaine, Paris.

"In 1950 Hayter returned to Paris and reopened Atelier 17. Works such as 'Fire Under Water' reveal newfound influences, such as that of the Ardèche, an area of southern France where he acquired a house in 1951 and visited frequently. Hayter took great interest in the flowing Escoutay River, an experience that parallels the artist and co-director of Atelier 17 Krishna Reddy’s interest in depicting water. While some forms in this print evoke the natural world, the palette of contrasting tones of purple, yellow, black, and white reflects Hayter’s belief in using color intuitively to express emotions and evoke feelings. The sharp white relief lines from the paper and the textural effects realized through soft-ground etching operate in tandem with the sweeping curves and bold colors to give the composition a sense of vitality and dynamism."
—edited from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Collection: British Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art, National Gallery of Art.

$2200.

Green Shade =1963, Color etching and scraper.

B&M 278. Edition 50, (only 39 printed). Signed, titled, dated, and numbered 1/50 in pencil.

Image size 15 7/16 x 11 5/8 inches (392 x 295 mm); sheet size 21 1/8 x 16 inches (537 x 406 mm).

A superb, richly inked impression, with fresh, vivid colors, on Barcham Greem textured cream wove paper; the full sheet with margins (2 3/16 to 3 1/4 inches), in excellent condition.

Printed: intaglio black-green, contact lumogen yellow, soft roller phthalo green.

$1500.

Diptych =1967, Color engraving and scorper.

B&M 314. Edition 50, Signed, titled, dated, and numbered 10/50 in pencil.

Image size 13 7/8 x 19 1/2 inches (146 x 108 mm); sheet size 19 7/8 x 25 3/8 inches (394 x 292 mm).

A superb, vibrant impression, on antique-white wove BFK Rives paper, with full margins (2 1/2 to 3 1/4 inches). Minor skinning and tape residue on the top and bottom sheet edges, verso, otherwise in excellent condition.

Hayter created this work using engraving and scorper on 2 plates, printed side by side. He used alkali blue, printed intaglio, and a phthalo green with a hard roller on the surface. The proofing was in three states, the first with engraving (a single proof); the second adding further engraving and scorper (a single proof); the third added further engraving and editioned: color trial proofs, 5 artist's proofs and an edition of 50. The edition was completed in three printings: 8 in 1967; then Hector Saunier printed numbers 9 through 18 in 1968, and numbers 19 through 50 in 1969. This impression is from the Saunier 1968 printing. The online image does not accurately convey the vibrancy of the printed alkali blue/phthalo green.

$1500.

Expansion =1970, Color etching and soft-ground.

B&M 334. Edition 100. Signed, titled, dated, and numbered 23/50 in pencil.

Image size 17 1/8 x 19 7/16 inches (435 x 494 mm); sheet size 22 x 23 1/2 inches (559 x 597 mm).

A superb, richly inked impression with fresh, vivid colors, on heavy off-white wove paper; the full sheet with margins (2 to 2 1/2 inches), in excellent condition.

This image was created in the first state using a plate covered with a plastic sheet; the sheet was cut and soft-ground texture was added. In the second state the plate was covered again and the sheet cut then etched with a deep bite and soft ground texture was added. Printed by Hector Saunier: intaglio fluorescent orange, hard roller phthalo green, soft roller transparent yellow. The online image does not accurately convey the vibrancy of the printed fluorescent orange.

Published by A.B. Lublin, New York, in 1970.

Exhibited and reproduced: American Identities: Stanley William Hayter: From Surrealism to Abstraction; National Gallery of Art; 2009.

Collection: Madison Museum of Contemporary Art.

$1400.