The Little Elephant, drawing by Cuca Romley (b. 1933)
Image size: 10.5 x 7 7/8 in. Framed 11 x 14 in.
Signed Cuca Romley, lower right.
Drawing framed, acquired originally from a Paris gallery, France
Excellent condition
This framed drawing is very rare, unique. It depicts the little elephant from the classic children's book "The Elephant's Child" by Rudyard Kipling. Etchings were made based of the little elephant but this is the only drawing made. The beauty of this story explores themes of nurturing one's curiosity and pursuit of knowledge in one's desire to understand the world, and not be discouraged by setbacks.
Included as a complimentary and complementary piece, is a book (published 1986 ).
Of Ms Romley's works, eg. the noted Original Print Collectors Group had this to say
"This delightful (work) reveals Ms Romley's interest in line and detail as well as her sensitive handling of color, applied to each etching by hand. The naive quality of Romley's art is truly a measured expression of simplicity and joy."
- Original Print Collectors Group
Gallery believes it is hard to find art nowadays that captures the places and scenes depicted with such fine detail, storytelling imagination, skill, as well as exuding such simple happiness and joy as Ms Romley's work. This work is an example of the imaginative poetic beauty of Ms Romley's art that brings joy.
Ms Romley is in her nineties, and currently based in Spain after spending decades in New York City (since 1974). She trained at The École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts (ENSBA), a distinguished National School of Fine Arts in Paris, France, winning first prize in the Salon de l'Union des Femmes Peintres et Sculpteurs. Since arriving in NYC, she completed her finest and most elaborate etchings, many of which were of New York, and has held many exhibitions across the country as well as in Europe.
The artist won several noted awards for her art in her native Spain, and in Paris, France. She worked as an artist and also had a career in advertising, illustration and interior design, in Spain, France and New York. As an artist, she has had solo and group exhibitions first Paris, France, Monaco, Japan, Spain and the US.
ETCHINGS
Cuca Romley’s etchings of both famous and little places around the world are depicted with a remarkable attention to detail, a style that belies her sophisticated sense of line and color. These etchings capture a bygone era of a city in flux, and a snap shot of a classic image of a place. Each plate is etched with patience and a thoroughness reminiscence of the earlier days of engraving, in exquisite and fine detail.
Romley creates her intricate design on the etching ground that covers the copper plate. After the acid has etched the lines into the copper plate she engraves the details into the plate with a buril until the image is completed. For each individual print a master printer must ink the plate and wipe the surface clean. The plate is placed on the bed of the press and the previously wet French Arches paper 100% cotton covering the plate to pass through the press, and that completes the printing process.
After the printing ink has dried for a couple of days, the etching is ready for the hand coloring by the artist. There are often more than 30 colors in one of Romley’s images. Each print can take up to 6 hours to color; these colors impart a subtle transparent effect that compliments the delicacy of the line.
Every etching in the limited edition is then signed and numbered in pencil by the artist.
Size specified is the size of the copper plate, I.e. the image size.
Exhibition (selection)
1933 Born in Madrid, SPAIN
1952-55 Fashion Illustrator, SPAIN
Prize - Galerias Preciado , Sindicato Nacional Textil, Madrid, SPAIN
2nd Prize - Salon Nacional de Dibujos de Alta Costura, Madrid, SPAIN
1957-60 Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux-Arts, Paris, FRANCE
1961-68 Career in advertising, illustration and interior design, Paris, FRANCE
1962 Exhibition at Galerie Charbonel, Monte-Carlo, MONACO
1957 – 1967 This was a period of many exhibitions in Paris galleries, FRANCE
1967 First Prize - Salon de L'Union des Femmes Peintres, Paris, FRANCE
1971 - 2010
This period documents a move to New York City for work and art. The artist made New York City home, and has had numerous group and solo exhibitions in New York, California during this fruitful period, including several shows at JP Morgan Chase, and New York Institute of Technology.
2012 - The artist is based in Barcelona, Spain
2013- 2014 The BDG Gallery Barcelona, Spain
SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY