Claude Weisbuch (1927–2014), *La prise de Tournai* (*The Capture of Tournai*), 1970s

Art lithograph on Arches handmade paper, 55 x 75 cm (inside the mat), framed in a frame measuring 77 x 98 cm
Artist’s piece (EA);
Signed in pencil by the artist at the bottom right: "Weisbuch"
Publisher: Éditions Vision Nouvelle (Paris), printed at Atelier Desjobert (Paris)—one of the most famous and highly regarded Parisian lithographic printing houses, where a significant portion of Weisbuch’s lithographs were produced.
Claude Weisbuch is considered one of the greatest masters of printmaking and drawing of the 20th century. A genius of the line and the capture of movement: Weisbuch developed a completely unique style in which the line not only outlines a shape but literally “comes to life.” Instead of a static, smooth finish, he employed repeated, rapid, and expressive strokes. This creates the illusion of stop-motion, vibration, and a unique sense of momentum. In addition to musicians and theater figures, horses were one of Weisbuch’s most important subjects. In his depiction, the horse is a symbol of untamed strength, elemental energy, and elegance. Weisbuch deliberately limited his palette to shades of gray, sepia, ochres, warm browns, and velvety black against a cream-colored paper background. This style clearly draws on the sketches and drawings of masters such as Rembrandt, Honoré Daumier, and Leonardo da Vinci. He created in the “Non Finito” (unfinished sketch) aesthetic: The artist himself used to say: “I like sketches, the unfinished, images full of mystery.” The austerity of the background, combined with a dense network of dynamic lines, creates an incredible atmosphere of drama and elegance.
As a result, Weisbuch’s lithographs are highly prized by collectors around the world for their dynamic form, masterful craftsmanship, and refined, timeless aesthetic.
His line work was particularly admired by lovers of Japanese art. He was also awarded the title DIEU VIVANT by the Emperor of Japan, a testament to his international fame. In 2019, five years after his death, an exhibition organized by Ghislaine Bourzeix was dedicated to him at the Espace Richelieu.
Weisbuch’s works are included in the collections of the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and the Staatliche Graphische Sammlung in Munich.