Country Neighbors

This counterproof was made by laying a clean sheet atop a freshly printed impression and passing both through the press. It was created as a cul-de-lampe or tailpiece for an article on Buhot by Octave Uzanne, published in the journal Le Livre in 1888. The white gouache was used simply to mask unwanted elements, as the camera used in reproducing the image for the book would not distinguish it from blank paper. The crestlike ornament at the bottom, now drawn in pencil, becomes a virtual coat of arms with Buhot’s red owl stamp at its center. Even for such a mundane task as preparing an illustration for journal article, Buhot has taken the opportunity to distinguish this example from the print’s many states. The sheet has various graphite notations, among them the title of the print.

Félix Buhot
French, 1847–1898

Private collection

c. 1887

This image is posted publicly for non-profit educational uses, excluding printed publication. Other uses are not permitted.

Counterproof retouched with gouache, graphite, and pen and ink, laid down on board
Image: 6 1/4 x 7 13/16 inches