Les Amateurs d’Estampes

The only colour print by Manet. It shows his friend, the painter Edmond André. Manet launched a competition among poets to write two verses under his Polichinelle. Théodore de Banville’s alexandrines were chosen.
In 1874, the first edition was 25 copies, with the number printed in the centre below the character and above Bainville’s text. At the bottom left it says: Imp. Lemercier & Cie Paris. On the right is the number of the proof and Manet’s signature (initials). In the centre are two alexandrines by Théodore de Banville: Féroce & rose, avec du feu dans sa prunelle, Effronté, saoul, divin, c’est lui, Polichinelle! Manet did not take part in the first Impressionist exhibition, preferring to exhibit three works, including this lithograph, at the Salon of 1874.
Is it the one we are exhibiting, given its number? Manet could tell us… This is an important detail in the history of the print: to date, we have not found a print with a justification before this date.
In 1876, the newspaper Le Temps offered this lithograph on vellum as a bonus to its subscribers. This reprint was printed in 8,000 copies.
The printer’s name is now in the centre where the number of copies used to be. The text by Théodore Banville is unchanged. According to Lemercier’s nephew, the printer, 1,500 copies were destroyed because the censors considered the portrait to be a caricature of General Mac-Mahon. It is also rare and sought after. This is due to the fragility of the paper on which it was printed.
Private Collection