Ink on paper. Featuring a man. Signed Hugo Pratt (1927-1995, Italian) on the lower right edge. 14.8 x 10.4 in. (37.5 x 26.5 cm) Hugo Pratt was an Italian comic book artist best known for his stark, realistic renderings and combination of rich prose with historical facts. Widely celebrated for popular series such as Corto Maltese and Gli scorpioni del deserto, Pratt's comic books were often full of rich research and were set in locations referencing real cultural events, notably including the colonial wars in Africa and World War II. Born on June 15, 1927 in Rimini, Italy, he grew up in Venice in a cosmopolitan milieu before fleeing to Ethiopia to escape the growing fascism of Mussolini’s regime. His cartoons were characterized by his deft hand and quick, confident brushwork, quickly establishing himself as an indelible figure in the comic book canon. After his death in Grandvaux, Switzerland on August 20, 1995 at the age of 68, Pratt was inducted into the Will Eisner Hall of Fame, and his works have received numerous awards including the 1974 Prix Saint-Michel, the 1981 Angouleme Festival Elle Award, and the 1996 Max & Moritz Prize. PROVENANCE: Private estate (Italy)

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American, 19th century : This work was executed by an unknown hand, and can only be identified by origin (i.e., region, period).