Description:
Original etching with color aquatint by Luigi Kasimir depicting ahistoric canal street scene, dated 1914. The composition presents a narrowurban waterway flanked by tall buildings, rendered with strong linearperspective and architectural detail. Subtle color tones are integrated into theetched framework, adding atmospheric depth while preserving the structuralclarity of the composition.

This early work reflects Kasimir’s engagement with European cityscapes prior tothe peak of his production in the 1920s. The combination of etched line andrestrained color aquatint demonstrates his developing technical range duringthis formative period.

Medium: Etching with color aquatint

Dimensions:
Paper: 23” x 16.5”
Plate mark: 14” x 10”

Condition:
Fair condition, with substantial foxing present throughout the sheet,consistent with age.

About the Artist

Luigi Kasimir was an Austrian draftsman and printmaker whosecontributions to early twentieth-century color etching place him among the mostsignificant graphic artists of his generation. Trained at the Vienna Academy ofFine Arts under the influential etcher William Unger, Kasimir developed arigorous command of line, perspective, and atmospheric+ detail that became thefoundation of his mature work. Kasimir is best known for pioneering the use ofmultiple plates in color etching, a technique that allowed him to producerichly tonal, fully chromatic prints without resorting to later hand-coloring.For each composition, he typically prepared four to six separate copperplates-one for each hue-etching and inking them sequentially to achieveremarkable depth, precision, and chromatic harmony. This technical innovationdistinguished his prints within the broader revival of etching in Europe andthe United States during the first decades of the twentieth century. Throughouthis career, Kasimir traveled extensively across Europe and, later, the UnitedStates, rendering major urban centers, architectural landmarks, and regionalvistas with exceptional clarity and sensitivity. His work combines documentaryaccuracy with an expressive interest in atmosphere, seasonal light, and thesubtle textures of the built environment. Today, Kasimir’s etchings occupy an importantplace in the history of modern printmaking and remain widely collected fortheir technical accomplishment, historical value, and enduring aestheticappeal.