Two Men in a Wrestling Match, Rodolphe Julian (1839 – 1907)

This is a powerfully rendered etching depicting two male figures locked in an intense wrestling bout. The composition focuses on the two athletes, one lifting and overpowering the other in a dominant grappling hold, their muscular bodies intertwined in a dynamic struggle that conveys raw physical strength and tension. Behind the wrestlers, a lively crowd of spectators is loosely sketched in the background, providing context and atmosphere without distracting from the central figures. The print bears Julian's signature in the lower right and the printer's mark in the lower left, consistent with his graphic work from around 1880.

  • Provenance: ARTIST PROFILE: Rodolphe Julian (1839–1907) was a French painter, entrepreneur, and arts educator born in Guillestre, in the Hautes-Alpes region of France, who became one of the most influential figures in the Parisian art world of the late 19th century. After training as a painter and achieving modest success as an artist — including work as a portraitist and genre painter — Julian channeled his greatest energies into arts education, founding the renowned Académie Julian in Paris in 1868, which grew to become one of the most progressive and celebrated private art schools in Europe. What set the Académie apart was its groundbreaking decision to admit women students on equal footing with men, offering them access to live nude models and rigorous academic training at a time when the official École des Beaux-Arts in Paris remained closed to female applicants — making it a revolutionary institution in the history of art education. The school attracted an extraordinarily talented international roster of students, including Pierre Bonnard, Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, Édouard Vuillard, Maurice Denis, and countless others who would go on to shape modern art. Julian himself continued to paint throughout his life, producing portraits, genre scenes, and graphic works such as etchings, but his enduring legacy rests firmly on his role as an educator and democratizer of fine arts training, leaving an indelible mark on the development of both European and American art in the modern era.
  • Dimensions: 7 x 10 ½"

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Winning bidders are responsible for arranging packaging, shipping and all associated costs. In our confirming e-mail, we will provide a list of recommended packers and shippers. The bidder is free to use any of these firms or to select another. Sloans & Kenyon assumes no liability for the bidder's selection of a shipper or the shipper's performance.

by Sloans & Kenyon
June 4, 2026 11:00 AM EDT
5550 Friendship Boulevard
T60
Chevy Chase, MD, US 20815

Sloans & Kenyon

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 28% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $199 $10
$200 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $2,999 $100
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 + $1,000