Paris à l'eau-forte

Paris à l'eau-forte. Actualité, curiosité, fantaisie was a French weekly art review founded in March 1873 by the journalist and publisher Richard Lesclide and the artist Frédéric Régamey. Published every Saturday, it was a novel hybrid: alongside 16 pages of literary and artistic content in octavo jésus format (270 × 185 mm), subscribers received a minimum of five original etchings interleaved in the text, each numbered and signed, printed on China paper in editions of 100 by Auguste Delâtre and Alfred Cadart. The review was sold at 75 centimes per issue and 25 francs per year (soon raised to 40 francs), with a special 'artist's proof' edition at 100 francs per year. Its print run outside the etchings was fixed at 1,000 copies. The editorial team included writers such as Léon Cladel, Jules Claretie, Catulle Mendès, Jean Richepin and Charles Monselet, while the artistic direction was entrusted to Frédéric Régamey, who composed most of the hors-texte illustrations. The selection of etchings was overseen by Dr. Paul Gachet and Henri Guérard. The review's prospectus, likely written by Lesclide, explained its ambition: at a time when illustrated newspapers were multiplying and cutting prices to the lowest possible, it sought to publish a relatively expensive artistic journal aimed at a limited number of adherents, promising 300 etchings a year. Over nearly four years, Paris à l'eau-forte accumulated 187 issues. It changed addresses several times, hosted by Le Petit Journal at 103 rue Montmartre, then 61 rue Lafayette, and finally from spring 1876 at 2 rue de Châteaudun under the imprint of the Librairie de l'eau-forte. That publishing house issued works such as Charles Cros's Le Fleuve (1874) and Stéphane Mallarmé's translation of Edgar Allan Poe's Le Corbeau (1875), both illustrated by Édouard Manet, and took over the distribution of La République des lettres. Victor Hugo was among the first subscribers, and André Gill published a dramatic essay in verse. The review ceased publication at the end of December 1876. Its legacy lies in its innovative fusion of original printmaking with periodical publishing, and in the Librairie de l'eau-forte's catalog of illustrated books.

Paris à l'eau-forte was founded in March 1873 by Richard Lesclide, a Bordeaux-born journalist and scholar who had previously founded La Semaine théâtrale in 1851 and served as administrator of La Renaissance littéraire et artistique under Émile Blémont. Building on that experience, Lesclide launched his own artistic weekly from the offices at 103 rue Montmartre. The concept was innovative: subscribers would receive, in addition to the fascicle, a minimum of five original etchings interleaved in the text, numbered and signed, printed on China paper in editions of 100 by Auguste Delâtre and Alfred Cadart, who had founded the Société des aquafortistes in 1862, then L'Illustration nouvelle in 1868, and L'Eau forte en... (1874–1881). The review appeared every Saturday in a 16-page octavo jésus format (270 × 185 mm), with a print run outside the etchings fixed at 1,000 copies. The launch price was 75 centimes per issue and 25 francs for an annual subscription, which quickly rose to 40 francs. A special edition with 'artist's proofs' was offered at 100 francs per year. The review's cahiers were printed by A. Cochet in Meaux. Editorially, the weekly featured writers such as Léon Cladel, Jules Claretie, Catulle Mendès, Jean Richepin, and Charles Monselet, and offered numerous literary curiosities related to Paris. Artistic direction was entrusted to Frédéric Régamey, who composed most of the hors-texte illustrations (vignettes, etc.). The selection of etchings was handled by Dr. Paul Gachet and Henri Guérard. The spirit of the review was summarized in a prospectus, likely written by Lesclide: 'At a time when illustrated newspapers are multiplying and reducing their prices to the last limits of cheapness, it seemed possible to us to publish a relatively expensive artistic journal intended to recruit only a limited number of adherents.' The announcement promised 300 etchings per year. The venture lasted nearly four years and accumulated 187 issues. Management was entrusted to Charles de Sivry, whose signature appears at the end of each installment from winter 1874. The review moved several times: hosted by Le Petit Journal at 103 rue Montmartre, then at 61 rue Lafayette, and finally from spring 1876 at 2 rue de Châteaudun, under the imprint of the Librairie de l'eau-forte. That publishing house had issued, among others, Charles Cros's Le Fleuve (1874) and Edgar Allan Poe's Le Corbeau, translated by Stéphane Mallarmé (1875), both illustrated by Édouard Manet. The Librairie also took over the distribution of La République des lettres, edited by Catulle Mendès and Adelphe Froger. Among the notable subscribers was Victor Hugo, one of the first, for whom Lesclide served as private secretary; the writer offered some drawings to be engraved and reproduced, though this did not happen. Dr. Paul-Ferdinand Gachet, a friend of Lesclide practicing in Auvers-sur-Oise, was also an etcher; publishing in the review under the signature 'Van Ryssel', he encouraged Paul Gauguin, among others, to take an interest in this engraving technique. André Gill published a dramatic essay in verse, having had the idea in June 1872 of a periodical titled Gill guide dans Paris, a collection of texts and images never published. Léon Cladel republished Les Va-nu-pieds as a serial in 1876, a series of short stories illustrated by F. Régamey, among others. The critic Beraldi judged the graphic work disappointing, granting the first three years (1873–1874) of the eleven volumes a spirit of quality and coherence, but not the following ones, which he found disparate. The review ceased publication at the end of December 1876.

• 1876

  Moves to 2 rue de Châteaudun under the Librairie de l'eau-forte imprint; ceases publication at the end of December after 187 issues.

• 1875

  Librairie de l'eau-forte publishes Edgar Allan Poe's Le Corbeau, translated by Stéphane Mallarmé and illustrated by Édouard Manet.

• 1874

  Charles de Sivry becomes manager; his signature appears at the end of each installment from winter.

• 1874

  Librairie de l'eau-forte publishes Charles Cros's Le Fleuve, illustrated by Édouard Manet.

• 1873

  Founded in March by Richard Lesclide and Frédéric Régamey; first issue published.

A relatively expensive, limited-circulation artistic journal offering original etchings to a select readership.

• Paris à l'eau-forte weekly issues

  16-page weekly art review with at least five original etchings interleaved.

• Le Fleuve by Charles Cros

  Book published by Librairie de l'eau-forte in 1874, illustrated by Édouard Manet.

• Le Corbeau by Edgar Allan Poe

  Translation by Stéphane Mallarmé published by Librairie de l'eau-forte in 1875, illustrated by Édouard Manet.

1. 1À propos | Gallicagallica.bnf.fr
2. 2Advanced search | Gallicagallica.bnf.fr
3. 3Paris à l'eau-fortewikidata.org
4. 4Paris à l'eau-fortefr.wikipedia.org