Shere Khan, circa 1920
Mixed media on lithograph on Japan paper. Print pasted on cardboard, with white gouache highlights. Stamped and annotated in the lower right corner.
105 x 75 cm
Provenance:
Private collection, France
Certificate of authenticity established by Mr. Dominique Suisse, rightful owner of the artist.
Paul Jouve is best known for his illustrations of Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book. The motif of Shere Khan, the bloodthirsty tiger, is taken up here with a vigorous workmanship and a stylized posture, magnifying his power. The impressive silhouette of the Fauve, brushed in black, stands out on a bistre background and highlights of white gouache bring touches of light to this evocation.
Only 20 copies of this lithograph were printed. The first prints were reworked in a different way by the artist, making each one unique.
Here, the background has been worked by the artist to give it more depth and then varnished. On this background, white gouache highlights have been added to the tiger motif.