Maurice Legendre Notre Dame De Paris Et La Seine Hand Colored Etching Appraisal

Maurice Legendre, Notre Dame de Paris et la Seine (Hand-Colored Etching)

This artwork is a framed, hand-colored etching or lithograph by the French artist Maurice Legendre (1928–2020), depicting the iconic Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris seen from the banks of the Seine. The composition features the cathedral's twin towers in the upper left, looming over a river scene with an arched bridge and bare-branched trees, suggesting a winter or late autumn setting. The color palette is composed of muted blues, grays, and secondary earthy tones, typical of Legendre's mid-20th-century style which emphasizes atmosphere over sharp detail. The print is housed in a simple, metallic-finish frame with a cream-colored mat border. Notably, the bottom margin of the print appears to contain a handwritten title, likely in French, and a signature in the lower right corner, characteristic of original limited edition prints. The condition shows some signs of age-related wear; there is a visible scratch or crease in the paper running vertically through the center-left near the cathedral, and the frame shows some minor surface scuffing. Legendre was well-known for his 'Parisian School' landscapes produced during the mid-20th century, and this piece exhibits the soft, Impressionistic line work and delicate hand-tinting that collectors of his work value for their evocative portrayal of historic Paris.