a wonderful impression of this famous portrait etching of which there was no issued edition; an unknown number of proofs exist but this is an EXTREMELY RARE print; it is dated a year later than it was etched; Orlik dated impressions when they were printed
on wove japan paper with full margins
apart from an ink mark (framer’s ?) in the lower margin, well away from the plate, in perfect condition

etched when Mahler, the Bohemian-Austrian composer and conductor, was at the peak of his career, in charge of the Vienna Opera, the most prestigious in Europe at the time. Josef Stransky, also a Bohemian-Austrian musician, related that while he was having a discussion with Mahler in a Prague café they were joined by Orlik. the artist's first meeting with Mahler. As was his custom Orlik immediately drew a sketch of the composer which delighted Mahler. This led to a formal sitting for the etching portrait. Many years later, in a letter to his wife Alma, Mahler wrote that he frequently met Orlik around Vienna and was struck by how voluble about all topics Orlik was.