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CHRISTIAN FOSSIER (French, 1943–2013)
\"Orson Welles,\" 1968
Original Etching and Burin Engraving — Hand-Signed, Limited Edition 26/50H: 22 in, W: 17 in
An original intaglio print by acclaimed French master engraver Christian Fossier, dating from his important early period. Hand-signed and dated \"Fossier 68\" in pencil at lower right, titled \"Orson Welles\" in pencil at lower center, and numbered 26/50 in pencil at lower left. A blindstamp reading PARIS is present at lower right.
THE IMAGE
A striking, perfectly symmetrical black-and-white composition. A dense black border with rounded corners frames the scene like a cinema screen, enclosing a monumental arched form crowned by rounded shoulders — reading as a mask, a totem, or an imposing figure. A sharp triangular wedge cuts down through the center like a projector beam. At the heart of the work sit two adjacent concentric circles rendered in fine, precisely engraved rings, suggesting film reels, lenses, or a pair of watching eyes. Below, vertical striations fall like a stage curtain.
The contrast between crisp white and velvety, layered black is exceptional, showing the burin work and fine parallel hatching that made Fossier one of the outstanding technicians of French printmaking. This is not a literal portrait of the filmmaker but a symbolic one — Welles as an emblem of cinema itself: shadow, projected light, and the eye that sees.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Christian Fossier (1943–2013) was a French draughtsman, painter, and engraver. He taught at the École Supérieure d\'Art in Metz (1977–1981) and later served as Professor and Head of the Engraving Workshop at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris (1987–1993). A longtime member of the legendary Atelier Lacourière-Frélaut, he exhibited at Galerie Maeght, the Musée d\'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, and the Centre Georges Pompidou, as well as at the Tokyo and Venice Biennials. His work is held in major public collections including the Museum of Modern Art, New York, and the Art Institute of Chicago.
WHY THIS PIECE
- Small edition of only 50 impressions
- Early career work (1968) — scarce on the market
- Hand-signed, titled, and numbered in pencil by the artist
- Publisher\'s blindstamp present
- Crossover appeal for both fine print collectors and cinema/Orson Welles collectors
