Mere weeks after surviving the ordeal of World War II, Friedlaender (a Jewish artist) created "Images du malheur" (Image of Grief), a horrifying and complex set of twelve etchings (with aquatint) very much in the tradition of Goya's "Disasters of War".
While the justification calls for 100 sets, many fewer were printed, and many of those printed have apparently been lost.
These are his first published prints--beforehand, he had executed four trivial little plates, of which only a few proofs were printed.
The "Images du malheur" are thus numbered 5 to 16 in Schmücking's catalogue raisonné of Friedlaender's prints. At the artist's request, they are not reproduced, most unusual for a catalogue raisonné. Friedlaender never returned to realist etching.
Signed in pencil by the artist.
In excellent condition.
