Les Sages (1897)

Dated 1897, "Les Sages" is an artwork by Victor Prouvé. Historical background, 1897: Japanese prints reached Europe in large numbers and influenced many artists, while photography changed what painting needed to do. In the 1890s, colour lithography and Art Nouveau made the illustrated poster a celebrated art form. The catalogue places it in Mythology. The format is landscape. Mythology in brief: In European academies, history and mythological subjects ranked highest among painting genres, so they often appear on a large scale and with ambitious compositions. Artists from the Renaissance to the Symbolists returned to myth to explore love, power, fate, and transformation.

On onlly.art "Les Sages" is sold as a digital download (Digital JPEG + PDF files, 300 DPI). The files are delivered by email after payment, so nothing is shipped: you print locally, choosing the paper, size, and frame yourself. A landscape format suits wide, low wall spaces such as the stretch above a bed, mantel, or sideboard. Before printing, compare the proportions of the file with your frame so that nothing important is cropped. Hang the print away from direct sunlight, which over the years can fade any printed colour. Screens and printers render colour differently, so a small test print is a sensible way to check tones before committing to a large size. Matte and fine-art papers reduce glare in bright rooms, while glossy papers give stronger contrast and deeper blacks.

French, 1858–1943

If you like the visual language of Victor Prouvé, explore more works by the same artist in our collection.