STEEL ENGRAVING – “THE VISIT OF THE FOSTER CHILD” from the original painting by M. Ritcher, engraved by E. Mohn, published in 1886.  This engraving is in very good condition.  The engraving measures 7 3/8” x 9”, and is matted to 12” x 16” for easy framing.

            German art is usually admirable in genre, and here, in “The Visit of the Foster Child,” we have a characteristic specimen.  The foster mother extends her right hand in welcome to her former charge, but the foster brother on the floor has evidently forgotten the near relation he that formerly sustained to her; while she herself, dressed much more nicely than the little fellow, is shy, although urged by her old nurse to return the greeting.  The homely interior is lighted by rays from the window at the left which fall upon the clock, the old china plates, and the various utensils of the kitchen, while the open door behind the nurse seems to indicate that she has just come in with the pretty child.  Mr. Ritcher was a clever painter who gave the world several pictures that depict life in Germany.  This beautiful work, which represents Ritcher so well, was honored by being bought for the Dresden Gallery, in the 1800’s.

IMPORTANT TO NOTE

Antique prints, engravings, and lithographs are printing processes, which use steel, copper, stone or wood blocks or plates to produce a picture on paper.

Most antique prints and engravings, which are seen on the internet today, are bookplates.  Because they are pages from a book, there are multiple copies in existence.  This does not, however, mean that they are "reproductions" that have been printed recently.  Because they were, at some point, part of books, some have been preserved in excellent condition, while others show signs of age, as yellow spots or darkness on the edge of the page from being handled.

Engravings, and lithographs are high quality pieces of art, as it took a highly trained artist many hours of work to produce one.  Although there may be multiple copies still in existence, the date of the item should be stated, thus giving the buyer an idea of its age.

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