Early Mother Russia (La Petite Mere Russie)
Linoleum cut, 1926, Raskin 74; edition 50. 10 3/4 x 8 5/8 in. Initialed in the block with the monogram and signed in pencil,lower right. This is a fine impression on cream wove paper in excellent condition. The margins are full. This impression was issued in La Gravure Originale Belge, Volume 3, 1929, in an edition of 50 impressions. There was also a separate edition of ten impressions. Van Straten, like Masereel, was a social commentator and many of his prints reflect upon the political and social environment between the wars.
$2,000

L'apres-midi d'un Faune
Linocuts with added hand-coloring by the artist, 1918, Raskin page 119, edition 25. each approx. 6 1/4 x 4 3/ Signed on the title page in pencil and also numbered "19". This is the rare complete series of seven linocuts with the original cover as issued. Fine condition. Full margins. Each print is hand-colored by the artist. This is the first block book series done by van Straten and it was inspired by Stephane Mallarme (1842-1898). Complete sets are quite rare today. Very few sets were hand-colored. Illustrated here is one of the seven images.
SOLD

La Dormeuse (The Sleeper)
Suite of seven linocuts, 1921, Raskin page 122, edition 220. Each print measures about 6 x 5 in. Signed on the title page in pencil. These are fine impressions in fine condition with full margins. Inspired by the poem "The Sleeper" by Edgar Allen Poe (1831), La Dormeuse was one of van Straten's early block books and this particular effort won him the Lumière graphic art prize. Provenance: private collection, Antwerp.
$1,800

La Garconne
Linoleum cut, 1924, Raskin 54, edition 25. 15 1/4 x 7 1/2 in. Signed and titled in pencil. This is a fine impression printed on thin Japanese paper. The margins are substantial and appear to be full. This is a major work by this celebrated Belgian expressionist printmaker. It's illustrated on the cover of the catalog raisonne.
SOLD

La Tentation de Saint-Antoine (The Temptation of Saint Anthony)
Suite of eight linocuts, 1921, Raskin page 120, edition 220. Each print measures about 8 x 4 1/2 in. Each print is signed in pencil with the artist's initials. The impressions are all fine and the condition is excellent. This early, expressionist effort by van Straten shows the influence of German printmaking as well as the work of Frans Masereel. This fine set was published by Lumiere, Antwerp. Provenance: private collection, Antwerp.
$2,000

Le Garde-Champetre
Woodcut, 1937, Raskin 106; edition 65. 9 7/8 x 7 7/8 in. Signed and dated in the block and signed in pencil. This is a fine, dark impression on Japanese paper. Wide margins. Van Straten studied in Antwerp and was influenced by Masereel and Dufy. He's one of the preeminent Belgian expressionist printmakers from the 1930s.
$2,000

Le Thé Chez Miranda (Tea at Miranda's)
Linoleum cut, 1922, Raskin 43, edition 20. 12 5/8 x 9 3/8 in. Signed and dated, lower right in pencil and numbered "4" from the edition. This is a superb impression of this rare and important print. The paper is a light tan, wove and the margins are probably full and untrimmed. The condition is fine. Van Straten is seen here at his best. This modernist tour de force offers up just the right balance between realism and abstraction, and does so within a scene right out of the jazz age 1920s. Van Straten was arguably the most gifted blockprint artist in Belgium during the 1920s-1930s and the quality and range of his achievements are really quite remarkable. The Raskin catalogue raisonne is a wonderful reference and was published in 2002 with text in three languages.
SOLD

Les Voluptantes
Linoleum cut, 1922, Raskin 40, edition 25. 9 1/8 x 9 3/8 in. Signed and titled in pencil. This is a fine impression printed on a very thin sheet of Japanese paper. (There are two subtle printing creases in the image and they are hardly noticeable.) The margins are wide and appear to be full. This fine Belgian expressionist print is quite uncommon, as are most of van Straten's early works.
SOLD

Meisje met Feitschen (Woman with Fetish Objects)
Linoleum cut, 1926, Raskin 69, edition 25. 6 3/4 x 9 7/8 in. Signed in pencil, lower right. This is a fine, rich impression printed on cream colored Japanese paper. The margins are full. The condition is excellent. Van Straten's bold block print designs were often combined with intense subject matter. He was not shy about expressing himself. This stunning and sensual work reflects the wide ranging interest in African art in Belgium during the early 20th century.
SOLD

Meisje van de Far West (Young Lady of the Far West)
Linoleum cut, 1932, Raskin 82, edition 25. 11 x 7 1/8 in. Signed and titled in pencil. Inscribed "no.4" in pencil. This is a superb impression printed on cream, fibrous Japanese paper. The margins are full. The condition is fine apart from an occasional foxing(?) specks in the margins only. Van Straten examined a wide range of subjects; nightclub scenes, immigrants and the less fortunate, sailors, and erotica. He was often humorous in his outlook and this particular print is his 1930s view of Hollywood as seen though the eyes of a European.
SOLD

The Fair (Kermis); also, Massacre of the Innocents
Linoleum cut, 1925, Raskin 65, edition 25. 9 3/4 x 7 in. Signed and titled in pencil. This is a superb impression printed on very thin Japanese paper. The margins are wide and probably full. the condition is fine other than very slight rippling showing on the back of the man at left. This outstanding work by van Straten is exemplary of his achievements during the 1920s. A sense of humor is so often evident in his prints.
SOLD

The Immigrants
Woodcut, 1926, Raskin 72, edition 25. 11 x 9 7/8 in. Signed and titled in pencil. A superb impression of this major print. Full margins. Very good condition other than slight foxing mostly in the lower right corner margin area. With the recent publication of an extensive catalogue raisonne, the importance of van Straten as a major Belgian modernist printmaker can now be better appreciated. His potent images are well-crafted and provocative.
SOLD

The Navigator (De Zeevaarder)
Linoleum cut, 1931, Raskin 79, edition 25. 10 3/4 x 8 3/4 in. Signed in pencil. This is a fine impression on thick, fibrous Japanese paper. The margins are full and the condition is very good. This is an artist's proof apart from the edition of 25. The block for this print and two working drawings are in the Prentenkabinet, Antwerp.
$2,400

Zonzon Pepette (La Fillette de Londres)
Linoleum cut, 1925, Raskin 63; edition 25. 7 3/4 x 6 1/2 in. Signed and titled in pencil. This is a superb impression on very thin Japanese paper. The margins are full. The condition is fine other than a very subtle bit of darkening within a previous mat opening. This rare and engaging print is exemplary of van Straten's best work. The Raskin raisonne published in Dutch, French and English in 2002, has an extensive biography on the artist. The Belgian writer, Andre Baillon, wrote an acclaimed book about prostitution in London during this period, "Zonzon Pepette, Fille de Londres." Van Straten was active with the Lumiere group. (Other woodcuts by van Straten are currently available.)
SOLD