"Return from the Hunt" is a hand-coloured, plate-signed pochoir, plate VI, from the 1913 Modes et Manieres d'Aujourd'hui, which was published from 1912 to 1922 and has been described by Guiliano Ercoli in "Art Deco Prints" (Rizzoli 1989) as "the most luxurious of all (the Parisian fashion publications)". The applied gouache paint is dramatic, saturated and brilliant.
Limited to only 300 copies, the "M&M" audience was the very wealthy. Each annual issue featured text of poetry, fashion and entertainment, illustrated in a series of 12 pochoirs. Each edition was devoted exclusively to one artist. It is rare to find pure comedy in the world of pochoir, but here Martin makes wry social commentary on the frivolity and consequences of the pampered lifestyle: Dressed to the nines, ghastly poultry to be plucked, cooked and served; where does a girl begin?
On japan paper, H. 10.875in X W. 7.0in; H. 27.6cm X W. 17.8cm |