File:VERSAILLES.2 12 16.Comité des Étudiants Américains de l'École des Beaux-Arts Paris.WWI post card art.un-numbered.signed Gandon.Wittig collection.item 56.reverse.scan.02.jpg

Summary
VERSAILLES.2 12 16.Comité des Étudiants Américains de l'École des Beaux-Arts Paris.WWI post card art.un-numbered.signed Gandon.Wittig collection.item 56.obverse.scan.01.jpg. Swans (presumably) at Versailles. . Engraving or etching, deeply impressed; (possibly hand-)coloured in green & brown, also possibly some areas have been overdrawn in black ink, by hand, to "bold" elements of the imprinted design. The colouring (& "bolding") appears to be part of the original design, & not a later "addition". Almost certainly this design & work was created by either Gaston Gandon (____?-1940 or 1941?) pere, or Pierre Gandon (1899-1990) fils, or conceivably a collabouration of both(?); both were notable French artists in the field of postage stamp design and engraving. In researching the Comité postcards, I have encountered 3 cards signed by "Gandon" (or "GANDON); each card bearing a different, imprinted design; 2 from 1916, 1 from 1918. Presumably they are also by the same family of artistes Gandon(s), but I've no idea whether all 3 are by the same person or not.  Nominally, I think I favour the son as the designer of this particular card; but that's just a guess.  Will add more Gandon information later.  Uploads of images of the other 2 Gandon-signed cards are pending.  Printed on a standard Comité des Étudiants Américains de l'École des Beaux-Arts Paris postcard blank, printed on the reverse with: 'The Comité des Étudiants Américains de l'École des Beaux-Arts Paris guarantee the authenticity of this post card' (signed R. TRU(B/D/?)ON?) & the standard graphic design.  Front with title/location above the image, date in shorthand format, and artist's signature below the image; as follows:"V (errata? title started(?), then re-written below) - VERSAILLES - 2 12 16 - Gandon"; all of which appears to be hand-inscribed, not imprinted. Back un-numbered, with only the standard printed design & text.    Dated "2 12 16"; meaning either February 12, or December 2, of 1916; circumstances may suggest the February date is more likely to be the correct one (i.e:  un-numbered card, with a reasonably sharp & fresh impression of the reverse design).  Possibly the image is NOT meant to represent a "live" view of a specific location, on the designated date; but rather an idealised/idyllic romantic image.  More information is always appreciated.  Wittig collection, item 56; private collection, fam. Wittig et cie.

Created during WWI, therefore obviously pre-1923; uploaded here to avoid Commons' "dual jurisdiction" PD rule.

Please do not transfer to WMC unless you can confirm the item's PD-status as per Commons' requirements.

ORIGINAL SOURCE VERSION OF FILE, please do not overwrite!

(reverse is also uploaded at File:VERSAILLES.2 12 16.Comité des Étudiants Américains de l'École des Beaux-Arts Paris.WWI post card art.un-numbered.signed Gandon.Wittig collection.item 56.obverse.scan.01.jpg)