Interest Increasing in the Works of Louis Icart

We have seen quite an increase in interest in the works of Louis Icart over the past year.

Prices peaked about a generation or so ago due to the large number of collectors active in the market at the time. The gradual price decline since then has reversed fairly dramatically with the emergence of a new group of collectors who appreciate Icart’s etchings and their unique representations of a very unique period in history.

Louis Icart was born in Toulouse, France, in 1888. He was best known for his drawings of women and depictions of Paris life in the 1920s - becoming a major figure of the Art Deco period before his passing in Paris in 1950.

He created “Brittania”, pictured below, in about 1918. Before his etching came up for bid at our auction in January, it was expected to sell in the $1,200 to $1,800 range. The consignor was pleased when the auctioneer’s gavel fell at $2,750. Prices remained strong on other Icart works that came up for bid during our auctions in March and May.

We are proud to be offering another of his earlier works, "Bird of Prey," consigned by a local collector, during our June 7-8 auction.