Figures & Portraits · 20th century
€ 280
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Very good condition. Light age toning with only minor edge wear. No creases or tears. Paper surface clean and smooth with excellent color preservation.
Smiling 1920s Portrait “Vera” – Lithograph by L. Fircsa, Dutch Edition 1929
Radiant Art Deco portrait titled Vera, created by Hungarian artist L. Fircsa and published as a color lithograph in the Christmas edition of the Dutch magazine Haagsche Post, dated December 25, 1929 (No. 642). This joyful image captures a young woman with short, softly waved brown hair, flushed cheeks, and a brilliant smile—a striking representation of youthful charm and optimism at the close of the Roaring Twenties.
The sitter is shown in profile, turned slightly to the right, dressed in a warm yellow garment with a light collar. The portrait is framed by a bold blue inner border and soft grey outer margin, giving the piece a clean, graphic structure that reinforces its Art Deco design sensibility. Her bright expression and glowing skin tones evoke vitality, confidence, and the modern femininity of the period.
Signed simply “L. Fircsa” below the image, the artist was known for his sensitive and lively portraits, often featuring fashionable women of the 1920s and 1930s. His style merges subtle realism with the streamlined aesthetics of commercial illustration. The print was produced by L. van Leer & Co., Amsterdam, a prominent Dutch printer known for their work on deluxe magazine supplements and fine lithographic reproductions.
Issued as part of Haagsche Post’s annual Kerstnummer (Christmas issue), this portrait was designed to be enjoyed as a standalone art print—hence the high production values, vibrant color rendering, and elegant layout. The subject, Vera, is likely a fictional or archetypal figure chosen to embody the spirit of a new modern woman: cheerful, fashionable, and self-assured.
A standout piece for collectors of Art Deco, vintage portraiture, or Dutch magazine illustration.
Condition report:
Very good condition. Minimal wear with just faint toning in the margins. Colors remain bold and fresh. No tears or visible creases.
Framing tips:
This print is already bordered with a decorative Art Deco layout. A simple black, dark wood, or brushed silver frame would complement it well. No mat is needed unless preferred for additional space around the margins.
Technique: Lithograph
Maker: L. Fircsa, Hungary
Publisher: L. van Leer & Co., Amsterdam, for *Haagsche Post*, 1929
