Choir kid - Mosè Bianchi 1868-80

📜 Description
Original etching by Mosè Bianchi, executed between 1868 and 1880 and published in Paris by Cadart & Luce, depicting a young choir boy standing in a domestic interior engaged in a quiet devotional or daily action. The work belongs to the context of 19th-century European graphic production, with a focus on intimate genre scenes and observational realism. The composition is centered on a single youthful figure, positioned beside a small table, within an interior defined by a window, drapery, and liturgical or decorative objects, while secondary elements such as a chair, a vessel, and a small plant in the foreground reinforce the domestic and contemplative atmosphere. The signature “A. Bianchi” visible at the lower margin identifies the author and confirms the print as part of his engraved production. The scene reflects a moment of stillness and introspection, consistent with Bianchi’s interest in everyday life and subtle narrative detail, while the combined use of etching and drypoint produces a varied line quality, alternating between precise definition and softer tonal passages.

📚 Historical note
Mosè Bianchi, a key figure in 19th-century Lombard painting and printmaking, developed a refined graphic language rooted in direct observation and tonal sensitivity. His collaboration with the Parisian publishers Cadart & Luce situates this work within the international network of artist prints promoted in France during the second half of the century. The inclusion of the print in “Illustration Nouvelle”, a limited luxury edition, highlights its editorial and collectible significance within the broader context of European original printmaking.

🧾 Technical sheet
Type: original etching
Author / Maker: Mosè Bianchi
Publisher / Printer: Cadart & Luce
Place: Paris
Period: 1868–1880
Material: paper
Technique: etching and drypoint
Subject / Title: Enfant de Choeur en Italie
Edition / Print run: limited edition of 100 copies on rice paper
Dimensions: sheet 28 × 40 cm; plate 14 × 22 cm
Marks / signatures / inscriptions: signed on plate “A. Bianchi”

🔍 Condition Report
Print in very good overall condition, with wide margins and blank verso; paper well preserved with minor signs consistent with age.