a wonderful impression of this famous portrait of the Bohemian-Austrian composer and conductor, etched when Mahler 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 and this was 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.

There was no issued edition of the etching, Orlik made impressions more or less on demand which is why one can find some prints dated as late as 1905 (he dated them when he printed them) and there is no definitive total of impressions made. The number was small however and this is an EXTREMELY RARE print.

As were all the impressions we have seen this example is printed on japan paper and has full margins; apart from an ink Mark (framer's ?) in the lower margin well away from the plate, in perfect condition