An Important Later Edition Showing the "Birth of Modern Art," Presented in a Fine, Unusually Decorative Dorfner Binding

LOS CAPRICHOS [THE CAPRICES].

(BINDINGS - DORFNER). GOYA, FRANCISCO, Illustrator.

(Munich: Hugo Schmidt, 1922). 305 x 205 mm. (12 x 8"). [6] leaves, followed by plates.With a foreword by Valerian von Loga. No. 423 OF 500 COPIES of the "Engraved Edition."

HANDSOME CRIMSON MOROCCO, GILT, BY OTTO DORFNER (stamp-signed on rear turn-in), covers with a strapwork frame in an Art Deco design, raised bands, strapwork ornaments at head and foot of spine, gilt lettering in one panel, turn-ins with thick and thin gilt rule, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, other edges untrimmed. WITH 83 COPPERPLATE ENGRAVINGS, all with tissue guards. Spine gently faded to a soft rose, a scattering of small, faint spots to leather, but A FINE COPY--entirely clean, fresh, and bright internally, and the binding with almost no signs of wear.

The sumptuous Hugo Schmidt edition of Goya's striking satirical "Caprices" is presented here in a lovely Dorfner binding. Francisco de Goya y Lucientes (1746-1828) conceived of this series of 80 prints as a critique of the ills he saw plaguing late 18th century Spanish society. The suite focuses on the nobility, the Church, and the Inquisition, but also addresses more general societal concerns, such as child abuse, superstition, and poor education. Its general message is in keeping with the Enlightenment philosophy of the day; philosopher Alexander Nehamas writes that in these artworks, Goya advocates for a society in which "freedom in place of custom, knowledge instead of ignorance and morality where custom held sway will remove the 'lies and prejudices' that stand in the way of human happiness." However, the "Caprices" represent more than just a period critique: art historian Carl O. Schniewind writes that "in a way it may be said that modern art was born in these compositions which break away, once and for all, from the domination of eighteenth century tradition." Originally executed in etching and aquatint, this suite of prints demonstrates Goya's ability in the medium, with wonderful depth and subtlety of shading, skillfully reproduced in copper engraving in the current edition. Publisher Hugo Schmidt, who released high quality art books and facsimiles in the first two decades of the 20th century, had published a reproduction of "Los Caprichos" in photogravure in 1918. The publisher's note here, dated December 1922, tells us that the present edition, with Goya's works expertly reproduced in copperplate by the art printers J. B. Obernetter, was prompted by a lively scholarly interest in the 1918 edition. Both Schmidt editions begin with an introduction by art historian Valerian von Loga (1861-1918), who taught at the University of Berlin and is best known for his monograph on Goya. Our copy is distinguished by its binding, executed by one of the leading artisans of the period. Otto Dorfner (1885-1955) taught at the School of Applied Arts in Weimar and at the Bauhaus workshop before founding his own school to teach binding. He was awarded a number of international prizes, and is particularly noted for his work with the Cranach Press. His bindings tend to be elegantly understated, but executed with exemplary craftsmanship and using the best materials. Our binding, which falls squarely into the Art Deco mode, is almost radically decorative by comparison. (ST20816)

Price: $3,500.00