Quai de l'Hôtel de Ville (or Bouquinistes de Paris)
Original print, likely a color etching or lithograph on wove paper, framed with matting. • Tavernier, Frantisek Simon (T.F. Šimon)
Style & Movement
Belle Époque / Post-Impressionism (specifically the Prague school of printmaking influenced by Parisian street scenes).
Medium & Technique
Color etching or lithograph with hand-coloring or aquatint; features fine line work for details and flat tonal washes for the sky and pavement.
Creation Period
1903
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 40 x 50 cm (internal print), landscape format in a larger gilded plaster frame.
Subject Description
A classic Parisian street scene depicting 'bouquinistes' (second-hand booksellers) along the Seine. A seated elderly man reads a paper beneath an umbrella while a customer browses. In the background, a horse-drawn carriage and figures cross a bridge under a soft blue sky.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good; the print shows significant acid burns from the original matting and noticeable foxing/yellowing consistent with its age.
Estimated Market Value
$800 - $1,500 USD
Auction Estimate
$600 - $1,200 USD
Provenance History
Likely acquired in Europe; the signature 'T.F. Šimon' and date '1903' are clearly visible in the lower right margin, suggesting an early career work.
Art Historical Significance
T.F. Šimon was a renowned Czech painter and printmaker who spent much of his career in Paris. This work represents the early 20th-century fascination with the quotidien life of Paris and is a fine example of his technical mastery in color printmaking.
Notable Features
Features the artist's monogram and date '1903' within the plate, along with a pencil signature in the lower right margin and an artist's proof or title inscription in the lower left.
Condition Issues
Visible browning (mat burn) along the edges of the image, sporadic foxing (brown spots), and some chipping/cracking of the gilded plaster on the decorative frame.
Conservation Recommendations
Requires deacidification and light cleaning by a paper conservator. Should be remounted using acid-free, archival-quality matting and UV-protective glass to prevent further fading.