Fishing Fleet, from the seventh album of L'Estampe originale

This etching and aquatint print presents an intriguing mystery: it's attributed to Théo Tobiasse (1927-2012) but dated 1893—34 years before the artist was born. This work was published in the seventh album of L'Estampe originale, a prestigious French print publication series from the 1890s that featured works by contemporary artists like Toulouse-Lautrec and Bonnard. The attribution appears to be an error, as Tobiasse was a 20th-century painter and printmaker known for his deeply personal imagery drawn from his Jewish Lithuanian heritage, memories of fleeing the Holocaust, and vibrant explorations of cities, biblical themes, and female figures. The technique here—etching and aquatint with burnishing rendered in warm brown tones on tan laid paper—creates subtle tonal variations that capture the maritime atmosphere of a fishing fleet. The modest dimensions and intimate scale suggest this was meant for collectors of fine prints rather than public display. Without more information about the actual creator of this 1890s work, we can appreciate its technical sophistication: the use of two plates allowed for rich layering of tone, while burnishing added highlights and atmospheric depth to what was likely a scene of boats gathered at harbor or sea.