Henri Guérard (1846-1897 )The Shoes on the Right. Before 1888. Etching and drypoint. 237 x 152. Beraldi 268; I.F.F. not described; Bertin 360. An exceptional print used as a support for a missive from Eva Guérard filling the margins and the left side of the print, addressed to Félix Buhot. In the upper left-hand corner of the subject, under Guérard's signature, an interesting annotation in pencil in his hand indicating the origin of the shoes: "(Honfleur) the flood brought them". In the lower right corner of the subject, another annotation in his hand: "approves the above writing" followed by his initials, framed by various stamps, G, GG, GH and a GH wax seal (Lugt not described). Vertical and horizontal courier folds. Henri Guérard was a collector of many objects (Asian arts, shoes, lanterns...) whose image was often translated by him in engraving. Édouard Manet admired his mastery of etching. In 1879, Guérard married Eva Gonzales, a student, model and friend of Manet. She is the author of this letter addressed to that other engraver, Félix Buhot: "Dear Mr Buhot, Henry is in no condition to write to you at all, he does not have enough twenty-four hours a day to get his etchings out. That is what he is busy with and nothing can distract him from it. I am afraid that the matter will be prolonged, and as I have a good heart, it is I who have come to give you news of Paris and of Art. We have been voting. Although you put a respectable distance between yourself and the voters, your name was read several times on the ballot papers on that memorable day. Henry saw Monsieur Gauchez before he left for London. He was to return on the 6th. He did indeed come back, but there has been no news of him. It is to be believed that he will organise his Black and White absolutely to his own liking. In the meantime, Goeneutte, Yon, Gilbert, Haquette and Vuillefroy have had their paintings exhibited at L'Art since yesterday. Monsieur Monziès came to dinner at our place on Sunday, he is enthusiastic about your apartment. I don't know if you will be able to take possession of it when you come back, especially if he buys a wing chair, as he seems to intend to do. He is very observant and has found that the best fire is in our house, as the snow has disappeared from our roof, which was not the case with the neighbours. Thanks to Azor's bell [the pug dog that was the subject of Guérard's engravings], he knows our entrances and exits, and he creates many distractions for us. Our existence is almost as calm as yours, we also need hooves. The thaw is dreadful, and every day I have to go to my father's house and make a new will in which I am more or less generous to Azor, depending on his conduct. In the evening we sit in the fire, another peril, and read the papers while my sister plays sonatas. Our only entertainment has been the L'Oie Grasse dinner at Manet's (this dinner is neither weekly nor monthly, it was exceptional). We have just received the letter announcing the death of Mme Marthelot. M. Gachet absolutely wants to buy a press and he wants Goeneutte's press, who has no intention of selling it. He brought Henry a proof of his last plate for his New Year's gift. Young Norbert now has a model for the day, he has dressed him in a yellow striped jacket so that he plays the servant to amaze the bourgeois, when he is not posing. My husband will soon write to you when he has finally found the calm that befits an engraver and especially a writer. He regrets your absence very much and hopes that it will not last indefinitely. Our best regards, Eva Guérard.