Henri GERVESE (1880-1959). The Likin Bridge.... Lot 176

Henri GERVESE (1880-1959). The Likin Bridge. Etching and aquatint in colors on wove paper signed in graphite pencil lower right and numbered 51/500 lower left. Carved wooden frame. Size: 41x64.7 cm. (Slight foxing, pitting). Charles Millot dit Henri Gervèse (September 21, 1880 Vesoul-May 24, 1959 Buenos Aires) was a French naval officer, painter and illustrator. A graduate of the École navale, he served in the Far East, notably in China, where he commanded the cantinière Doudart de Lagrée on the Yangtze River in 1913-1914, then in the Dardanelles during the First World War. He ended his career as head of the Naval Historical Service. In 1921, he was appointed painter to the Navy. After living in Belgium, he emigrated to Argentina in 1930, where he worked for the compagnie des chargeurs réunis, illustrating posters and numerous postcards on the lives of sailors in China and Latin America. He also contributed drawings to newspapers such as Le Rire, Fantasio and La Vie Parisienne. He is known for his series of postcards and cartoons about the Navy, inspired by the other famous Navy cartoonist Sahib.