Iris Ballon "Silver Pear" Etching on Paper
Updated August 7, 2026
| Lot number | 129 |
| Category | Fine Art & Prints |
| Auction | Art Auction Tuesday August 11th |
| Date | August 11, 2026 at 6:59 PM EDT |
| Auction house | Erin Auctions |
| Location | Erin, ON |
Artist: Iris Ballon Title: Silver Pear Date: 1968 Medium: Original Etching on Paper Edition: Artist's Proof V (A.P. V) Signature: Signed and dated in pencil lower right: I. Ballon '68; titled in pencil lower centre. Waddington Galleries label verso confirms title, medium, artist, and Artist's Proof designation. Sight Size: 7.5 × 5.5 in. Frame Size: 12 × 10 in. An elegant original etching by Canadian artist Iris Ballon, depicting a stylized female figure in ornate decorative costume gently holding a pear, with a potted topiary completing the balanced composition. Executed in 1968, the work reflects the refined decorative aesthetic popular during the period, combining graceful line work, intricate floral motifs, and subtle aquatint-like tonal effects. Printed as Artist's Proof V, this impression precedes the numbered edition and is particularly desirable to collectors. The original Waddington Galleries label on the reverse further enhances the work's provenance. Ballon's distinctive figurative style blends elements of folk art, Art Nouveau, and modern graphic design, resulting in an image of quiet elegance and timeless appeal. Artist Biography: Iris Ballon was a Canadian printmaker and painter active during the 1960s and 1970s, recognized for her decorative figurative etchings characterized by elongated female forms, intricate botanical ornamentation, and finely controlled line work. Her prints were exhibited and distributed through The Waddington Galleries in Montreal, one of Canada's leading commercial galleries of the period.Ballon's work reflects influences from European folk traditions, Art Nouveau illustration, and mid-century decorative arts. Her limited-edition etchings remain appreciated for their craftsmanship, distinctive graphic style, and sophisticated decorative qualities, making them increasingly sought after by collectors of twentieth-century Canadian prints.
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