The Chauffeurs

Francisco Javier’s The Chauffeurs is a 2022 archival pigment print that merges high‑fidelity digital printing with hand‑applied embellishments, positioning the work squarely within contemporary fine‑art printmaking. Printed in color on wove paper at 22" × 17", the image carries the precision and tonal range associated with archival pigment processes, while the hand‑done additions introduce a tactile, individualized layer that distinguishes each print within the edition. As edition number 1/10, signed and numbered in ink at the lower right, this sheet has particular resonance: it marks the starting point of the series and underscores the intentional scarcity and collectability built into Javier’s practice. The combination of theme, pigment print technology, and hand‑embellishment aligns with current trends in Limited Edition Prints where artists leverage both digital and manual methods to create hybrid works that feel simultaneously reproducible and unique. Within the Askia Jones Collection, The Chauffeurs enriches the Limited Edition Prints section by highlighting the ways contemporary artists play at the threshold between photography, illustration, and painting, and by illustrating how small editions can operate as both accessible art objects and carefully crafted reflections of urban and cultural narratives.