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E.P. It is Pitiable

Leonard Baskin

Framed size: 22.75 in. (h) x 18.5 in. (w) x .75 in. (d)

$1,800.00

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Baskin, Blacks and Grays, Dark Colors, Earth Tones, Etching, Figurative, Framed, Intaglio Print, Jewish, Literature and Books, Monochromatic, Portraits and People, Post-War Twentieth Century, Prints & Multiples, Traditional Print

About the work

Ezra Pound. Brilliant, powerful, clever; among the greatest poets of the Twentieth Century. But also a fascist, racist, and antisemite, whose virulent language gave power to the Nazis and to Mussolini.

Across the bottom of this work Baskin has inscribed the words, “Ecce homunculus ingenio paene divino, sed potestatia atque contumacia in consuetudinem invadit. Cudibrium est.” My high school Latin is not quite up to the task, but my best translation of this statement is, “Behold the man of almost divine genius but whose power and stubbornness invade his soul. It is a trap.” (I think I have not captured the last portion, but perhaps I come close.) The title of this work—”E.P.: It is Pitiable”—tells us what Baskin is thinking.

By 1964, when Baskin created this work, the War had ended, Ezra Pound had turned himself over to the Allies, moved to the United States, and was treated at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Washington, DC, for supposed mental health disorders. His time there substantially rehabilitated his reputation. But was he really mentally ill? Was he ever sorry for his views? Was he pitiable?

Attributes	Value
Medium	Etching
Date	1950-1960
Framing	Custom framed and matted using conservation materials
Condition	Excellent Condition
Signing, Dating, and Titling	Signed and editioned by the artist en recto
Type	Modern Print-Makers

Medium:

Etching.

Paper:

Printed on thick wove paper.

Date:

1964.

Signature:

Signed by the artist in pencil in pencil, en recto lower right (as well as in the plate). Editioned en recto lower left.

Edition:

Unknown edition size.

Framing:

This work is beautiful in its new frame, behind 99% UV-blocking art glass, framed entirely with conservation-grade materials. The edition size is unknown, as was Baskin’s frequent practice. This is a scarce work. One example of this work can be found at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Accession Number: 2002.397.35).

Condition:

Very good condition. Image is clean, crisp, and bright, without toning or acid damage but paper under the mat was folded and is acid-burned.

Framed Size:

22.75 in. (h) x 18.5 in. (w) x .75 in. (d)

Plate Size:

17.75 in. (h) x 12 in. (w)

Catalogue Raisonné Entry:

Alan Fern, Judith O’Sullivan The Complete Prints of Leonard Baskin. New York, NY, 1984, cat. no. 579.