THE ONLY KNOWN SIGNED IMPRESSION OF THE FIRST STATE OF THIS EXTRAORDINARILY RARE PRINT, A CHARMING DRYPOINT EXECUTED AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF ROUSSEL'S CAREER.
The haunting image depicts a little Spanish girl holding a cup, apparently begging. The date (in faint drypoint, upper left) is "24 Xbre 87"--that is to say, the child is begging on Christmas eve.
In "The Prints of Theodore Roussel: A Catalogue Raisonné", Hausberg cites only one known impression of the first state, and it is unsigned. A total of fifteen impressions of all four states were printed, mostly in the final state.
An outstanding impression, in perfect condition, signed by Roussel.
UNIQUE.
