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Etching by Jim Dine from one of his most important artist’s books – completely designed and illustrated by Dine. Signed proof aside from Edition B (edition 200) and Edition C (edition 100). Signed by the artist lower right in pencil.
Pictured in this monochromatic Jim Dine etching is Basil Hallward, the artist companion of Dorian Gray in Oscar Wilde’s novel The Picture of Dorian Gray. Wearing a sleek black leather suit with wide pant legs, the male figure looks to his right, with a hand placed jauntily on his hip. Drips of mauve ink highlight the text written near his feet: “Basil in Black Leather Suit”. A bloom of translucent orange-red ink emerges from the man’s back, a reference to Basil’s death by knife wound at the hands of Dorian Gray.
Dine was working on the sets and costumes for a stage version of Oscar Wilde’s famed novel, and when the play did not come to fruition, Petersburg Press proposed that he make a book using his annotated typescript of the play. Dine then drew 12 lithographs illustrating his costume and set designs which are included in the book and an additional 4 etchings, separate from the book, which are included loose in Editions A and C. Dine would go on to be a frequent Petersburg Press collaborator.
A copy of this print is in the collection of National Gallery of Art, Maryland; and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
The book is in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London; Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland; Albright-Knox Museum, Buffalo; National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.; MoMA, New York; Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas, Austin
