Le Gagnant (The Winner)

Vollard employed the traditional woodcut process, carving the design into a block of wood, inking the raised surfaces, and pressing the block onto the paper. The use of a single black hue on Japan paper emphasizes contrast and line, characteristic of the period’s revival of printmaking techniques.

Since its creation, the print has been part of the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. The museum acquired it as part of its holdings of late‑19th‑century prints, where it is displayed alongside other works that explore the woodcut medium.

Produced at the height of the Symbolist and Art Nouveau movements, the work reflects a broader artistic trend toward simplified forms and the exploration of commercial printing methods as fine art. Vollard’s involvement in the Parisian art market also positioned him to experiment with such graphic media.