Sigismond Kolos-Vari Abstract Prints

Sigismond Kolos-Vari, 'Nets', color etching with soft-ground and aquatint, edition 200—1 of 60 artist's proofs, 1952. Signed and dated in pencil. Numbered L/LX in pencil. Image size 11 3/4 x 15 5/8 inches (298 x 397 mm); sheet size 15 x 22 1/4 inches (381 x 565 mm). A superb, richly-inked impression, on heavy, off-white, Arches wove paper; the full sheet with margins (1 3/8 to 3 1/2 inches), in excellent condition. Published by the Guide de la Gravure, Switzerland, with their blindstamp in the bottom left sheet corner. Matted to museum standards, unframed. ABOUT THE ARTIST Sigismond Kolos-Vari (1899-1983) was born in Hungary and attended the School of Applied Arts in Budapest from 1915-1918, and then the School of Decorative Arts until 1925. The artist settled in Paris and his first one-man show in 1928 at Galerie Miromesnil, which was highly successful, led to numerous subsequent exhibitions including the prestigious Galerie Bonaparte in 1929, and Galerie Povolosky in 1930. Kolos-Vari’s early success was abruptly interrupted by the outbreak of WWII. Imprisoned in a German concentration camp, he managed to escape after two years, crossing the border into Switzerland. After the war he returned to Paris and dedicated himself to his painting, producing increasingly powerful compositions. His work was highly acclaimed when shown at the important 1946 exhibition at the Musée National d’Art Moderne de Paris, organized by Jean Cassou. The artist was subsequently approached by the eminent art dealer Jean Bucher who gave Kolos-Vary a major one-man show at his gallery in 1948. During this post-war period Kolos-Vary participated in the avant garde exhibitions the Salon de Mai, 1949-1958, the Salon des Réalités Nouvelles, 1956-1961, and the Salon des Comparaisons, 1960-1962. Supported by his association with Stanley William Hayter and the landmark printmaking workshop, Atelier 17...