Geo Dorival, “Vers le Mont-Blanc” triptych
Georges Dorival painted this triptych in 1928 for the Paris-Lyon-Méditerranée railway and the Train du Mont-Blanc, to sell alpine travel to St. Gervais and the Col de Voza. Three lithographs show the same mountain at morning, noon, and night, printed by Lucien Serre in Paris. Dorival worked in the Art Deco style of the period and borrowed the flat color and bold outline of Ukiyo-e prints, giving the set a cinematic arc across the day.
Fewer than a hundred complete sets survive, and fewer than twelve have sold at auction since 2008. This set has stayed in a dry Colorado basement under dim light, and the color still holds as vivid as a new print. A comparable set sold at auction in 2018 for a hammer price of $24,000 to $30,000.
The linen backing and the lithograph ink both fade under direct sunlight, in months rather than years. Whoever buys this set needs a dry room out of the sun. Framed or rolled, it will outlast you if you keep it dark.
Specifications
- ArtistGeo Dorival, born 1879, died 1968
- TitleVers le Mont-Blanc, 1928. Morning, Noon, Night.
- MediumColor lithograph on linen, set of three
- DimensionsEach panel 29⅝ × 41¼ in (75.2 × 104.7 cm)
- PrinterImp. Lucien Serre, Paris
- ConditionMuseum-quality, linen-backed, no visible fading
- ProvenancePrivate collection, reputable dealer, documentation available
$15,000 for the set
Sold as a set only, plus shipping. The posters are in Colorado; they can ship framed or rolled. Get in touch before buying so I can confirm condition and talk through shipping.