Leonor Fini – Vesper Express, original silkscreen print signed N/Z

Leonor Fini – Vesper Express: a silkscreen print of exceptional rarity

Vesper Express is a original silkscreen print by Leonor Fini Of remarkable rarity: it belongs to a limited series of only 26 copies, numbered A to Z. This type of alphabetical printing, reserved for particularly exclusive editions, gives each print an almost unique character. The copy offered here bears the letter N/Z and has been hand-signed by the artist.

Created around 1970, this work depicts two female figures traveling aboard what appears to be the Orient Express. The two women, graceful and mysterious, are portrayed in an atmosphere of understated luxury, blending surrealist influences with reminiscences of the Vienna Secession. The treatment of motifs and the ornamentation of the clothing echo the aesthetics of Gustav Klimt, whom Leonor Fini deeply admired. The title, Vesper Express, adds a temporal dimension – that of twilight – which reinforces the dreamlike character of the scene.

Technical characteristics of this print by Leonor Fini

The screen printing is done on Rives paper, a prestigious paper renowned for its fine grain and exceptional durability. The screen printing technique, which relies on the passage of ink through a silk screen, allows for solid areas of color with unparalleled intensity and depth, particularly visible in the deep greens and reds that structure this composition.

The format – 67,5 cm (H) 50 cm (W) (26.6 in) 19.7 in – offers a pleasing balance between visual presence and ease of hanging. The print comes with a mat, ready to be framed according to the collector's preferences.

Conservation state

The work is in perfect condition. The Rives paper shows no signs of deterioration, the colors are intact and vibrant, and the handwritten signature is perfectly legible. This is a rare condition for a print of this period.

4. TEAM OPINION THE AUCTIONLAB

An alphabetical print run from A to Z, limited to just 26 copies: this is what makes this Leonor Fini silkscreen print truly exceptional. Most of the artist's prints were produced in editions of 150 or 275 – this one is in a different league of rarity altogether. The subject itself, these two travelers immersed in the atmosphere of the Vesper Express, encapsulates everything that makes Fini's world so captivating: mystery, elegance, and that touch of the uncanny that holds the viewer's gaze. In perfect condition and printed on Rives paper, it is one of the most desirable pieces in our Leonor Fini selection.

— The team The Auctionlab