Émile Bernard (1868-1941) The Bretoneries. 1889. Exceptional set of 9 plates. zincography. A portfolio in-fol. with original flaps, 380 x 460, containing the subjects printed on ivory vellum, illuminated in watercolor by the artist, each mounted on a laid sheet by several dots in the corners and marked in pen and sepia ink. In the lower right-hand corner of each mount, an unidentified collector's mark (J R ?) The support sheets, as evidenced by the text printed on the verso, come from defets of the book published by Vollard in 1930, Homer's Odyssey, illustrated with woodcuts by the artist (Morane 101), which he reuses here. "This suite of zincographs, a technique similar to lithography but in which the zinc plate replaces the porous limestone, printed in black, was first shown at the Café Volpini during the Impressionist and Synthetist group's painting exhibition in May 1889. It was presented in a cardboard box and, the catalog tells us, 'visible on request', like the eleven lithographic drawings by Gauguin." (D. Morane, Émile Bernard, catalog raisonné de l'œuvre gravé, Musée de Pont-Aven, Bibliothèque d'Art et d'Archéologie, 2000, p. 19). Little is known about the composition and printing of this album. "Albums from the collections of Filiger, Sérusier or Bonger, all presumably given by Bernard, differ." (D. Morane, op. cit.). "The indication that only 25 copies were printed is interesting, but seems to be exaggerated. Indeed, in several years of research we have identified less than fifteen proofs of these Breton plates." (D. Morane, op. cit., p. 20). Our copy, of which Morane was aware without having been able to examine it, is thus particularly interesting and in any case unique. We reproduce below the notes written in pen by the artist on a sheet of paper stuck on the second cover of the portfolio, serving as an introductory note. They date from May 17, 1936, date on which he gave this album to a lady whose name is crossed out on this sheet, and erased on the laid sheet bearing the first subject. We discover that for the artist the album of Bretonneries was composed of 6 plates only, the others being considered by him as independent subjects. Description: N.B.: the order adopted is that of the introductory note of the album and not that of the catalog raisonné . The first title is the one given by the artist in this note. In brackets we give the title of the catalog raisonné according to Morane. "The album des Bretonneries is composed of six plates" (introductory note). - Title : Bretonnonnes et vache (Bretonneries, title page). 242 x 310. Morane 9. At the foot of the sheet in pen: "Emile Bernard 1889". At the foot of the support sheet: "To [name erased] in very cordial sympathy and respect Emile Bernard". Short tear of 22 mm at the top center, penetrating the subject. - Le Linge (Breton women hanging laundry). 315 x 250 Morane 11. At the foot of the folio in pen: "Emile Bernard 1889" (ironed over a previous inscription, probably in pencil). Soft oblique fold across the left third of the folio. A small brown stain in the left sheet. - Les Foins (Breton women making hay). 320 x 251. Morane 12. At the foot of the folio in pen: "Emile Bernard 89". Short oblique tear of 22 mm at the top center, penetrating the subject. - On the Aven (Le Retour du pardon). 247 x 315. Morane 10. at the foot of the folio in pen: "Emile Bernard 89". - Dances (The Wedding in Brittany). 290 x 225. Morane 15. At the foot of the left-hand sheet in pen: "Emile Bernard". Fine and short tear of 10 mm and tiny snags at the foot, to the left of the two women's heads. Morane points out that the mention "unique épreuve" in the introductory note, associated with this subject, is "astonishing". (D. Morane, op. cit., p. 19). - The Pigs (Bretonnes nourissant les cochons). 312 x 255. Morane 13. At the foot of the left-hand folio in pen: "Emile Bernard 89". Small gap skillfully restored in the lower left corner of the subject. "Other independent plates" (introductory note): - The Apples (The Apple Picking). 245 x 222. Morane 17. Proof on thin ivory vellum with the corners cut down, glued by the corners on a vellum sheet itself mounted on laid paper. At the foot of the sheet on the right in pen: "Emile Bernard". - The Reapers (Bretonnes faisant la moisson). 298 x 236. Morane 16. At the foot of the folio in the center in pen: "Emile Bernard". - Young Girl with a Jug (Breton Peasant Woman). 240 x 300 Morane 18. Proof of the 1st state (of 2), before erasing the geese and changing the plowed field into an orchard. At the foot of the left leaf in pen "Emile Bernard". Tiny bumps on the box.