Original 1939 watercolor painting "Tranquillité" (Tranquility) by René Raffray, depicting a charming mill house. This watercolor was the basis for a Paris Etching Society aquatint etching of the same name. Signed "Raffray" lower right. Verso titled "Tranquillité", signed "R. Raffray", and dated ("23 Mars 1939"). Painting size: 11 x 9 inches.

Excellent condition. Ex Phyllis Lucas Gallery collection, publisher of Paris Etching Society prints. Photographs are detailed and taken under controlled lighting; post-production is performed with calibrated monitors. Thus, our photographs accurately capture the work's condition and colors. However, monitors vary and can affect the way art appears online. Contact us for any concerns.

René Raffray (1896-1975) was a French artist known for his rural themed artwork often depicting farms, cottages, streams and other landscapes. He was a main contributing artist to the Paris Etching Society.

Paris Etching Society a pre- and post-World War 2 publisher of aquatint etchings. Starting in the mid-1930s and continuing into the 1950s, founder Sidney Z. Lucas traveled to Europe periodically and contracted with French artists to publish their work under the Paris Etching Society name. Works published by Lucas are typically marked with a circle or triangle contain SZL (Sidney Z. Lucas initials) inside and sometimes "PES" for Paris Etching Society. Artwork was sold both wholesale and retail via the Phyllis Lucas Gallery. Paris Etching Society prints remain popular to this day. Original artwork for these prints, such as this watercolor, is quite rare.