I have an etching by Paul-Emile Lecompte from the Paris Etching Society of the USA made in France. On the left side of the picture is a circle with the initials SZL which stands for Sydney Z. Lucas. Outside of the circle is the number 5. The picture is of a home painted as in the fall and there is a man walking. The picture, or etching is 24x19 and 3l-1/2 by 28 framed. There is a seal on the back of the picture that says Genuine Etching. I have had the picture, which was a wedding gift, since 1947. I would appreciate any information anyone has as to the value or any other inste as to the artist. Thank you.

Some information that you find on the following site may be of help to you. Google Answers: Sun La Dyle Belgigue (http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=39718)


A quote from that same site:



Question

Subject: Sun La Dyle Belgigue
Category: Arts and Entertainment > Visual Arts
Asked by: wayno-ga
List Price: $10.00 Posted: 15 Jul 2002 06:29 PDT
Expires: 14 Aug 2002 06:29 PDT
Question ID: 39718

I have a print titled "Sun La Dyle Belgigue". I cannot make out the artist's name in the lower RH corner, but in the upper right is says "Naris etching society N.Y. USA" In the lower left there is a circle surrounding the letters SZ and L. Outside the circle at the 8 o'clock position is the numeral 4.

Can you tell me the origin and worth of this work?

Answer

Subject: Re: Sun La Dyle Belgigue
Answered By: scriptor-ga on 15 Jul 2002 12:21 PDT

Dear wayno,

Here is what I was able to find out concerning your print:

1. The SZ and L in the circle are the trademark of Sidney Z. Lucas, who owned a printshop in New York in the years 1940 to 1960. He produced a large number of prints after old etchings. Generally, prints by Mr. Lucas seem not to reach very high prices, as severalexamples indicate:

At Ruby Lane, two Lucas prints are for sale for $ 20.00:
http://www.rubylane.com/en/shop/item.tcl?shopnickname=alfredsalley&mainsection=collectibles&itemid=01139

The Gallery Kathryn offers a set of two Lucas prints after works by Jean-Louis Prevost for $ 50.00:
Missing Link (http://pages.tias.com/7048/InventoryPage/1319752/1.html)
They also have two Ballerina prints after André Chevalier for $ 24.95 each:
Granny's Cupboard & Collectibles (http://pages.tias.com/208/InventoryPage/1061809/1.html)

These Old Things has several Sidney Z. Lucas prints in stock, for $45.00 and $ 30.00 respectively:
Art & Photos (http://www.theseoldthings.com/artphotobody.htm)

It might well be that certain Lucas prints are more rare and therefore more valuable than others; but the general image is that they are commonly not expensive.

2. The company name in the upper right corner is actually 'Paris Etching Society'. As it seems, this New York enterprise was very active in distributing prints and etchings mainly after works of French and Flemish (Belgian and Dutch) artists. Many Paris Etching Society prints are circulating, but nevertheless, hardly anything is
known about them. It is possible that this was an association of professional etchers, of the kind mentioned here:

The Prairie Printmakers, by Stephen Goddard
http://www.ukans.edu/~sma/ppm/ppmintro.htm

The identitiy of the 'Paris Etching Society' remains a mystery; even art collectors have no answers, as the New York Art World Message Board dealing especially with this topic reveals:

http://newyorkartworld.com/bbs2/index.sht

The only thing for sure is that the Society was active at least from the early 1930s to the mid-1960s and that prints bearing their copyright are neither rare nor extremely valuable. Sidney Z. Lucas has obviously been a member of the Society. This is, I'm afraid, all information available on the 'Paris Etching Society'.

3. The correct name of the picture is "Sur la Dyle" ('On the Dyle River', a river in Belgium), and the artist's name was Lucien Dasselborne from the Province of Hainaut / Belgium, living from 1873 to 1952. His specialy were rural and village scenes. In accordance with the testamentary wish of Lucien Dasselborne, a triennial contest is organized by the care of the provincial Commission of the Foundations of Grants of Hainaut, with the support of the Province of
Hainaut and the collaboration of the City of Turned. Alas, there is no list of his works available, so the exact date when he drew 'Sur la Dyle' remains unknown.

This is, I'm afraid, all I could find out. It is not very much, but I hope it provides you. Some useful information concerning the approximate value of your print, its origin and the artist

Main sources:

Fred Robson, "Re: Paris Etching society Prints". Online posting in the New York Art World message board for the Paris Etching Society, May 20, 2002.
http://newyorkartworld.com/bbs2/messages/232.html

New York Art World Message Board
WWWBoard Version 2.0! (http://newyorkartworld.com/bbs/index.sht)

New York Art World Message Board for The Paris Etching Society
http://newyorkartworld.com/bbs2/index.sht

La guide de la province Hainaut, service des relation publiques, 2002:
http://www.hainaut.be/leguide/loisirs7.asp?liste=Le+guide+des+institutions

Search terms used:
"La Dyle" etching: ://www.google.de/search?hl=de&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&newwindow=1&q=%22La+Dyle%22+etching&meta=
"lucien dasselborne" (via alltheweb.com):
http://www.alltheweb.com/search?cat=web&cs=utf-8&l=any&q=%22lucien+dasselborne%22
"Paris Etching Society":
://www.google.com/search?hl=de&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&newwindow=1&q=%22paris+etching+society%22&lr=
"Sidney Z Lucas": ://www.google.de/search?q=%22sidney+z+lucas%22&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=de&meta=

Hope this was what you were looking for!

Regards,
Scriptor