This French Hansi print is a plate from a book titled Mon Village. The book was first published in 1913 and contains artistic renderings of life in a French village. Hansi was Jean-Jacques Waltz and was born in Colmar when it was under German rule in 1873 where it remained until 1918.
In his career as writer and artist, he became closely associated with the Alsace region where he became known as a pro-French Alsatian. Hansi was imprisoned by Germans and was badly injured by the Gestapo because of his satirical work making fun of German military and professors. He died in 1951.
This work depicts Le Messti. According to https://theculturetrip.com/europe/france/articles/10-traditions-unique-to-alsace-france/:
In the smaller towns and villages, the Messti or the Kilbe is celebrated once a year, either for a day or a whole weekend. The tradition started as a holiday to mark the date when the local church was consecrated. Locals get to wear their eye-catching traditional costumes, enjoy delicious food, and generally have a thoroughly good time typically crowned with a dance. It is mostly a family celebration, with several generations coming together for this special day.
The print is 11 ½" x 8 ¼". Please note the damage to the upper left corner in the third photo, the soiling in the lower right corner of photo five, and the creasing at the bottom, near the border, of the sixth photo.
Thank you for looking.
Returns & Exchanges
I gladly accept returns, exchanges, and cancellations
Just contact me within: 3 days of delivery
Ship items back to me within: 7 days of delivery
Questions about your order?
Please contact me if you have any problems with your order.