On s'amuse

On s'amuse is a beautiful black and white linocut on paper, realized in 1945 by the Italian artist  Mino Maccari .

Hand-signed  "Jean Barbe" and numbered in pencil on the lower margin. Edition of 300 prints.

From the volume On s'amuse: 16 gravures en bois par Jean Barbe   published by Documento, Rome.

This modern artwork and original print, representing an extremely erotic dream characterized by expression of the joy connected with satisfaction of pleasure, is in excellent conditions: as good as new, with a lifetime impression and a wonderfully fresh line. A white cardboard passepartout is included (49 x 34 cm).

In 1945, Mino Maccari published a folder containing 16 linoleums with a strongly erotic subject matter, titled  On s' amuse! . Because of the scandalous subject for the time, he signed with the pseudonym of Jean Barbe. The circulation is of 300 copies, 40 "before letter", numbered in Roman numerals, hand-painted by Maccari himself and signed by him "J.B."

Reference:

Francesco Meloni,  Mino Maccari: reasoned catalog of engravings . Milan: Electa, 1979.

Mino Maccari  (Siena, 1898 - Rome, 1989)

A multi-faceted artist, painter, engraver, writer and journalist. He was a leading figure in twentieth-century Italian culture. He lived and worked in contact with the major Italian artists and intellectuals of the period, such as Malaparte, Soffici, Rosai, Longanesi, Pannunzio, Morandi, and many others. He was a prolific artist, remembered above all for being the satirical illustrator of  Il Selvaggio .