Sketch signed by Etienne Paris - either 57 or 37, matted and framed. Purchased at an art gallery in the 1960s in southern Cal. This is one of two similar style / subject owned.
apx 8x11.5 sketch - 22x26 matted and framed
Hello Alana,
Thank you very much for submitting your artwork for an appraisal and for your patience.
The presented object appears to be a sketch of a female nude in a hat in red chalk on paper. It measures approximately 8 x 11.5 inches, is framed and looks to be in good condition. It is signed "Etienne," dated 1957 and inscribed "Paris" in the top left corner.
I believe that the work can be attributed to Roger Etienne (Belgian-American, 1923-2011) who was a noted artist and actor during the 1960s. According to IMDb: "He first started painting and sketching as a young boy, selling his first drawings on the train, his hobby quickly turned into a passion. He worked with a variety of different mediums, gouache, watercolor, oils, pastel, charcoal, often incorporating French newspapers on his canvases. He often painted landscapes of his hometown of Bruges, images of Parisian love, flowers, nudes, whimsical clowns, and wide eyed children."
We have appraised a number of paintings and sketches by this artist over the years and though his name is relatively well-known, the demand for his work is unfortunately not very high. You can see some comparable sketches and the recently achieved hammer prices here:
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/149448980_roger-etienne-female-nude-watercolor-painting
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/104976933_roger-etienne-female-nude-wash-on-paperboard
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/63616555_roger-etienne-french-b1922-encre-rouge
Based on these results, I would estimate the current fair market value of the work at $100 to 200, though retail and asking prices may vary.
If you have any questions about my appraisal, please let me know in the comments section below. Thank you again for your submission and have a wonderful day!
Kind regards,
Anne