1930s Abstract Prints

This exquisite lithograph and pochoir with hand coloring by Jean Cocteau (1889–1963), titled Sans titre (Untitled), from the album Le Livre blanc (The White Book), precede dun fronti...

This exquisite lithograph and pochoir with hand coloring by Jean Cocteau (1889–1963), titled Sans titre (Untitled), from the album Le Livre blanc (The White Book), precede dun fronti...

This exquisite lithograph and pochoir with hand coloring by Jean Cocteau (1889–1963), titled Sans titre (Untitled), from the album Le Livre blanc (The White Book), precede dun fronti...

This exquisite lithograph and pochoir with hand coloring by Jean Cocteau (1889–1963), titled Sans titre (Untitled), from the album Le Livre blanc (The White Book), precede dun fronti...

This exquisite lithograph and pochoir with hand coloring by Jean Cocteau (1889–1963), titled Sans titre (Untitled), from the album Le Livre blanc (The White Book), precede dun fronti...

This exquisite lithograph and pochoir with hand coloring by Jean Cocteau (1889–1963), titled Sans titre (Untitled), from the album Le Livre blanc (The White Book), precede dun fronti...

This exquisite lithograph and pochoir with hand coloring by Jean Cocteau (1889–1963), titled Sans titre (Untitled), from the album Le Livre blanc (The White Book), precede dun fronti...

This exquisite lithograph and pochoir with hand coloring by Jean Cocteau (1889–1963), titled Sans titre (Untitled), from the album Le Livre blanc (The White Book), precede dun fronti...

This exquisite lithograph and pochoir with hand coloring by Jean Cocteau (1889–1963), titled Sans titre (Untitled), from the album Le Livre blanc (The White Book), precede dun fronti...

This exquisite lithograph and pochoir after Sonia Delaunay (1885–1979), titled Planche No. 22 (Plate No. 22), from the folio Compositions, couleurs, idees, Sonia Delaunay (Compositio...

Louis Marcoussis (1883-1941), Un Reve, etching, 1930, signed in pencil lower right and inscribed “2nd etat 1/2” lower left. Plate 1 of the portfolio Aurelia. Reference: Milet 55II, second state (of 4), before the edition (of 153 in the fourth state). In good condition, on a wove paper with full margins (a small area of discoloration below the border lower left, remains of prior glue right margin edge), 7 1/4 x 5 3/8, the sheet 15 5/8 x 9 3/8 inches, archival matting. A fine impression of a rare proof, before the edition. This is one of the two proofs of the second state. After this state the plate was reduced in a third state (from 183 to 174 mm), and then steel faced for the edition. Provenance: Libreria Prandi Reggio (blindstamp lower right corner) Jean Cassou and Pierre Courthion asked Marcoussis to illustrate Aurelia, a novel by Gerard de Merval. This was the first album of their collection “Le Blanc et Le Noir,” edition chez Fourcade. Marcoussis was familiar with this novel, in which imagination and reality intermingle. In it de Merval wrote: “La Reve est une seconde vie.” (The Dream is a parallel life.) Marcoussis wrote of the print: “Il ressemblait a l’Ange de la Melancholie d’Albrecht Durer.” (It recalls the angel in Durer’s Melancholia...

This exquisite lithograph by Joan Miro (1893–1983), titled L'Ete (Summer), from Verve, Revue Artistique et Litteraire, Vol. I, No. 1, originates from the 1937 issue published by Editions de la revue Verve, Paris, under the direction of Teriade, Editeur, Paris, and printed by Mourlot Freres, Paris, 1937. This early and vibrant composition captures Miro's poetic vision of nature and the cosmos, rendered through biomorphic forms and rhythmic abstraction. L'Ete reflects Miro's fascination with the cyclical harmony of life and his belief in art as an extension of natural forces. Through his distinctive visual language—combining organic shapes, symbolic gestures, and luminous color—Miro conveys a profound sense of vitality and dreamlike wonder, embodying the spirit of renewal that defines his oeuvre. Executed as a lithograph on velin du Marais paper, this work measures 14 x 10.5 inches. Signed in the plate and unnumbered as issued. The edition exemplifies the superb craftsmanship of the Mourlot Freres atelier, renowned for its collaborations with the leading modernists of the 20th century. Artwork Details: Artist: Joan Miro (1893–1983) Title: L'Ete (Summer), from Verve, Revue Artistique et Litteraire, Vol. I, No. 1, 1937 Medium: Lithograph on velin du Marais paper Dimensions: 14 x 10.5 inches Inscription: Signed in the plate and unnumbered as issued Date: 1937 Publisher: Editions de la revue Verve, Paris, under the direction of Teriade, Editeur, Paris Printer: Mourlot Freres, Paris Catalogue raisonne reference: Miro, Joan, et al. Miro, L'oeuvre Graphique: Musee d'art moderne de la ville de Paris, 1974, illustration 395. Condition: Well preserved, consistent with age and medium Provenance: From Verve, Revue Artistique et Litteraire, Vol. I, No. 1, published by Editions de la revue Verve, Paris, 1937 About the Publication: Verve, Revue Artistique et Litteraire was one of the most influential art periodicals of the 20th century, founded in Paris in 1937 by the visionary Greek-born publisher Teriade (Stratis Eleftheriades). Conceived as a synthesis of art and literature, Verve brought together the greatest modern artists and writers of its time—Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Georges Braque, Joan Miro, Fernand Leger, and others—alongside poets and philosophers such as Paul Eluard, Albert Camus, and Jean-Paul Sartre. Each issue was a work of art in itself, luxuriously printed by master lithographers such as Mourlot Freres and produced in collaboration with leading typographers and designers. Verve became a platform for avant-garde creativity, publishing original lithographs and essays that reflected the evolving spirit of modernism. Matisse collaborated closely with Teriade from the magazine's inception, producing some of its most iconic issues, including those devoted to his paper cut-outs. The final Verve issue of 1958, which featured La Tristesse du Roi and the Nu Bleu series, stands as a testament to Matisse's enduring genius and to the publication's legacy as the definitive meeting of art, poetry, and printing craftsmanship in 20th-century France. About the Artist: Joan Miro (1893–1983) was a Catalan painter, sculptor, printmaker, and ceramicist whose visionary imagination and lyrical abstraction made him one of the most influential and beloved artists of the 20th century. Born in Barcelona, Miro drew inspiration from Catalan folk art, Romanesque frescoes, and the luminous landscapes of Mont-roig del Camp, developing a deep connection to nature that infused his work with vitality and symbolism. After formal training at the Escola d'Art in Barcelona, he absorbed the lessons of Post-Impressionism and Cubism before moving to Paris in the early 1920s, where he became a leading figure in the Surrealist movement. There, Miro forged a personal visual language of biomorphic shapes, floating symbols, and radiant color harmonies that reflected both spontaneity and spiritual depth. In creative dialogue with peers such as Alexander Calder, Alberto Giacometti, Salvador Dali, Wassily Kandinsky, Marcel Duchamp, and Man Ray, he helped revolutionize modern art by dissolving the boundaries between abstraction and dream imagery. Miro's inventive approach extended far beyond painting, embracing sculpture, ceramics, and monumental public commissions that redefined how art could interact with space and emotion. His expressive freedom and gestural abstraction profoundly influenced later artists including Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, Alexander Calder, Jean Dubuffet, Antoni Tapies, and Joan Mitchell, inspiring generations who sought to merge instinct, color, and imagination. Today, Miro's work remains a cornerstone of modernism, prized by collectors and celebrated in major museums worldwide. His highest auction record was achieved by Peinture (Etoile Bleue) (1927), which sold for £23,561,250 (approximately $37 million) at Sotheby's, London, on June 19, 2012. Joan Miro L'Ete, Miro Verve...

This exquisite linocut by Gino Severini (1883–1966), titled Gravure futuriste (Futurist Engraving), from the album XXe siecle, Chroniques du jour, 13 rue Valette (5e), Directeur G. d...

This print was made for the American Abstract Artists Portfolio, 1937. All the images were lithographs made on zinc plates. Usually they were signed or initialed in the image -- on the plate, as this one is. As a group they explored abstraction in the 1930s, while maintaining their individual styles. The plan was to make an edition of 500 portfolios although it seems highly unlikely that this was accomplished. The Whitney Museum of American Art has a set. The dimensions, 12 x 9 1/4 inches, are for the sheet; this work signed and dated in the plate. Ray Kaiser...

Skater in Motion II, 1938 Original linocut on paper Artist's initial's inscribed in block From the portfolio, Verve, by Teriade 35.5 x 26 cm - sheet 40.6 x 31.2 cm - framed Unknown e...

This exquisite lithograph and pochoir after Sonia Delaunay (1885–1979), titled Planche No. 36 (Plate No. 36), from the folio Compositions, couleurs, idees, Sonia Delaunay (Compositio...

This print was made for the American Abstract Artists Portfolio, 1937. All the images were lithographs made on zinc plates. Usually they were signed in the image -- on the plate, as ...

Paul Kelpe, Untitled (Abstract Composition), lithograph, 1937, edition unknown but small. Signed and dated in pencil. A fine, richly-inked impression, with all the nuanced texture an...

Lithograph on Van Gelder Zonen Bütten paper. Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the volume, Der Mensch ist kein Haustier, 1937. Published by...

This exquisite lithograph by Max Bill (1908–1994), titled Variation 13, from the album XXe siecle, Chroniques du jour, 13 rue Valette (5e), Directeur G. di San Lazzaro, Sommaire du n...

This exquisite linocut by Jean Helion (1904–1987), titled Sans titre (Untitled), from the album XXe siecle, Chroniques du jour, 13 rue Valette (5e), Directeur G. di San Lazzaro, Somm...

This exquisite woodcut by Wassily Kandinsky (1866–1944), titled Orientalisches (Oriental), from the album XXe siecle, Chroniques du jour, 13 rue Valette (5e), Directeur G. di San Laz...

Hand-signed and numbered in pencil, 14/30. Engraved at Marcoussus' studio and printed by Lacouriere, Paris. Co-published by Pierre Loeb, Paris and Pierre Matisse, New York. Literatu...

This exquisite lithograph by Andre Masson (1896–1987), titled Le Soleil (The Sun), from Verve, Revue Artistique et Litteraire, Vol. I, No. 2, originates from the 1938 issue published...

This exquisite woodcut by Wassily Kandinsky (1866–1944), titled Schwarzer Fleck (Black Spot), from the album XXe siecle, Chroniques du jour, 13 rue Valette (5e), Directeur G. di San ...

This iconic Art Deco lithograph poster designed by Belgian artist Jozef Winters proudly promotes Antwerp as both a thriving world port and a celebrated art city. Crafted circa 1930, ...

This exquisite lithograph by Francisco Bores (1898–1972), titled La terre (The Earth), from Verve, Revue Artistique et Litteraire, Vol. I, No. 1, originates from the 1937 issue publi...

This exquisite lithograph by Andre Masson (1896–1987), titled La Lune (The Moon), from Verve, Revue Artistique et Litteraire, Vol. I, No. 2, originates from the 1938 issue published ...

Etching on vélin de Rives BFK paper. Paper Size: 11.5 x 9 inches. Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Notes: From the album, Lysistrata, 1934. Published by The Limited E...

Josef Albers, 'Segments', linoleum cut, 1934, edition 20, 25, plus proofs, Danilowitz 79. Signed, titled, dated, and annotated '(proof)' in pencil. A fine, richly-inked impression on...

Lithograph on Van Gelder Zonen Bütten paper. Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the volume, Der Mensch ist kein Haustier, 1937. Published by...

This exquisite lithograph by Fernand Leger (1881–1955), titled L’Eau (Water), from Verve, Revue Artistique et Litteraire, Vol. I, No. 1, originates from the 1937 issue published by Editions de la revue Verve, Paris, under the direction of Teriade, Editeur, Paris, and printed by Mourlot Freres, Paris, 1937. This vibrant composition embodies Leger’s fascination with the elemental forces of nature reinterpreted through the lens of modernity. L’Eau reflects his ongoing exploration of the harmony between mechanical precision and organic movement, transforming the natural motif of flowing water into an abstract symphony of curves, color, and rhythm. Through its interplay of form and line, the work reveals Leger’s mastery of balance and visual dynamism—an artistic celebration of motion and modern life. Executed as a lithograph on velin du Marais paper, this work measures 14 x 10.5 inches (35.56 x 26.67 cm). Signed in the plate and unnumbered as issued. The edition reflects the superior craftsmanship of the Mourlot Freres atelier, celebrated for its collaborations with the leading modern artists of the 20th century. Artwork Details: Artist: Fernand Leger (1881–1955) Title: L’Eau (Water), from Verve, Revue Artistique et Litteraire, Vol. I, No. 1, 1937 Medium: Lithograph on velin du Marais paper Dimensions: 14 x 10.5 inches (35.56 x 26.67 cm) Inscription: Signed in the plate and unnumbered as issued Date: 1937 Publisher: Editions de la revue Verve, Paris, under the direction of Teriade, Editeur, Paris Printer: Mourlot Freres, Paris Condition: Well preserved, consistent with age and medium Provenance: From Verve, Revue Artistique et Litteraire, Vol. I, No. 1, published by Editions de la revue Verve, Paris, 1937 About the Publication: Verve, Revue Artistique et Litteraire was one of the most influential art periodicals of the 20th century, founded in Paris in 1937 by the visionary Greek-born publisher Teriade (Stratis Eleftheriades). Designed as a meeting point of art, poetry, and philosophy, Verve united the era’s greatest modern artists—including Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Georges Braque, Joan Miro, and Fernand Leger—with leading intellectuals such as Paul Eluard and Albert Camus. Printed by the master lithographers Mourlot Freres, each issue was a masterpiece of craftsmanship, presenting original lithographs alongside literary works in a richly designed format. The inaugural issue, Vol. I, No. 1, published in 1937, marked a defining moment in the history of modern art publishing—introducing the vision of Verve as a beacon of artistic collaboration and aesthetic excellence that would shape the visual culture of the 20th century. About the Artist: Fernand Leger (1881–1955) was a visionary French painter, sculptor, designer, and filmmaker whose groundbreaking fusion of modern industry, vivid color, and geometric form transformed the course of 20th-century art. Born in Argentan, Normandy, Leger began as an architectural draftsman before studying at the Academie Julian and the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he absorbed the lessons of Paul Cezanne’s structural rigor and the revolutionary ideas of Cubism. Alongside Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, he became one of the leading innovators of the avant-garde, yet his work stood apart through its embrace of mechanical rhythm, bold contrasts, and industrial modernity—earning him the title “the painter of the machine age.” His art celebrated the beauty of technology, urban life, and the human form rendered in dynamic, interlocking cylinders and planes, evoking the pulse of the modern world. Immersed in the vibrant Parisian art scene, Leger worked in dialogue with peers and contemporaries such as Alexander Calder, Alberto Giacometti, Salvador Dali, Joan Miro, Wassily Kandinsky, Marcel Duchamp, and Man Ray, all of whom shared his commitment to innovation and the reimagining of artistic expression. Beyond painting, Leger’s creative reach extended into film, design, and monumental public art—his 1924 collaboration on Ballet Mecanique with Dudley Murphy and Man Ray remains a landmark of avant-garde cinema. His later works evolved toward greater clarity and monumentality, celebrating the unity of form, color, and humanity through large-scale murals and mosaics that bridged fine art and architecture. Leger’s synthesis of Cubism, Futurism, and abstraction paved the way for movements such as Pop Art and influenced generations of artists including Roy Lichtenstein, Ellsworth Kelly, Robert Indiana, and Alexander Calder, who admired his fusion of structure, energy, and optimism. Today, his works are prized by major museums and collectors worldwide for their bold visual power and enduring modernity. His highest auction record was achieved by La femme en rouge et vert (1914), which sold for $39,241,000 at Sotheby’s, New York, on May 7, 2008. Fernand Leger L’Eau, Leger Verve, Leger Mourlot...

This exquisite heliogravure after Henri Matisse (1869–1954), titled Fruits, from Verve, Revue Artistique et Litteraire, Vol. I, No. 4, originates from the 1938 issue published by Edi...

This exquisite woodcut by Hans Jean Arp (1886–1966), titled Constellations, from the album XXe siecle, Chroniques du jour, 13 rue Valette (5e), Directeur G. di San Lazzaro, Sommaire ...

PAUL LANDACRE (1893 – 1963) DECORATION (Design for Green Mansions) 1932-3 (Wien 125), Wood engraving. RARE. Only four titled and signed impressions, ...

Stanley William Hayter, 'Torero', engraving, 1932, edition 30, only 16 known impressions, trial proof, Black & Moorhead 71. Signed, titled, dated, and inscribed 'Essai' (test) in pencil. A superb impression with rich burr, on heavy BFK Rives cream, wove paper; full margins (2 1/4 to 6 1/4 inches). A short repaired tear (3/8 inch) in the left-center sheet edge, well away from the image; otherwise, in excellent condition. Scarce. Image size 10 9/16 x 7 5/8 inches; sheet size 15 1/2 x 11 1/2 inches. Matted to museum standards, unframed. ABOUT THE ARTIST Stanley William Hayter (1901-1988) was a British painter and printmaker associated in the 1930s with Surrealism and from 1940 onward with Abstract Expressionism. Regarded as one of the most significant printmakers of the 20th century, Hayter founded the legendary Atelier 17...

Werner Drewes, 'Small Forms on Crossing Bands', drypoint and roulette, 1935, edition 20, Rose 1.197. Signed in pencil. A fine, rich impression, in warm black ink, on cream wove paper...

This print was made for the American Abstract Artists Portfolio, 1937. All the images were lithographs made on zinc plates. Usually they were signed in the image -- on the plate, as this one is. As a group they explored abstraction in the 1930s, while maintaining their individual styles. The plan was to make an edition of 500 portfolios although it seems highly unlikely that this was accomplished. Ibram Lassaw (1913-2003) was primarily known for his sculpture. Born in Egypt to a Russian family...

This exquisite linocut by John Joseph Wardell Power (1881–1943), titled L'homme calculateur (The Calculating Man), from the album XXe siecle, Chroniques du jour, 13 rue Valette (5e),...

This exquisite linocut by Alberto Magnelli (1888–1971), titled Composition 66, from the album XXe siecle, Chroniques du jour, 13 rue Valette (5e), Directeur G. di San Lazzaro, Sommai...

This exquisite linocut by Giorgio de Chirico (1888–1978), titled Cabina Misteriosa (Mysterious Cabin), from the album XXe siecle, Chroniques du jour, 13 rue Valette (5e), Directeur G...

Lithograph on Van Gelder Zonen Bütten paper. Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the volume, Der Mensch ist kein Haustier, 1937. Published by...

This exquisite linocut by Ossip Zadkine (1890–1967), titled Les trois graces (The Three Graces), from the album XXe siecle, Chroniques du jour, 13 rue Valette (5e), Directeur G. di S...

This exquisite linocut by Giorgio de Chirico (1888–1978), titled Cabina Misteriosa (Mysterious Cabin), from the album XXe siecle, Chroniques du jour, 13 rue Valette (5e), Directeur G...

This full-on view of a musician and his bass (also known as an upright bass or string bass), has an air of calm befitting the lowest-pitched bowed instrum...

Joan MIRO Boy with Red Sun Original linocut Printed signature in the plate Published in 1938 by San Lazzaro for XXe Siecle On wove paper 32 x 25 cm (c. 13 x 10 in) References : Dut...

CARL HOECKNER (1883 – 1972) ORBITS, c. 1935 Lithograph, edition unknown but small. Image 11 3/3 \4 x 18 3/8 inches, sheet 12 3/8 x 19. In good condition aside from small margins an...

This exquisite lithograph and pochoir after Sonia Delaunay (1885–1979), titled Planche No. 2 (Plate No. 2), from the folio Compositions, couleurs, idees, Sonia Delaunay (Compositions...

This exquisite lithograph and pochoir after Sonia Delaunay (1885–1979), titled Planche No. 10 (Plate No. 10), from the folio Compositions, couleurs, idees, Sonia Delaunay (Compositio...

This exquisite lithograph by Abraham Rattner (1895–1978), titled Le Feu (The Fire), from Verve, Revue Artistique et Litteraire, Vol. I, No. 1, originates from the 1937 issue publishe...

This exquisite lithograph by Abraham Rattner (1895–1978), titled L'automne (Autumn), from Verve, Revue Artistique et Litteraire, Vol. I, No. 3, originates from the 1938 issue publish...

This exquisite lithograph and pochoir after Sonia Delaunay (1885–1979), titled Planche No. 5 (Plate No. 5), from the folio Compositions, couleurs, idees, Sonia Delaunay (Compositions...

This exquisite lithograph and pochoir after Sonia Delaunay (1885–1979), titled Planche No. 1 (Plate No. 1), from the folio Compositions, couleurs, idees, Sonia Delaunay (Compositions...

This exquisite lithograph and pochoir after Sonia Delaunay (1885–1979), titled Planche No. 24 (Plate No. 24), from the folio Compositions, couleurs, idees, Sonia Delaunay (Compositio...

Lithograph on Van Gelder Zonen Bütten paper. Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the volume, Der Mensch ist kein Haustier, 1937. Published by...

Lithograph on Van Gelder Zonen Bütten paper. Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the volume, Der Mensch ist kein Haustier, 1937. Published by...

This exquisite lithograph and pochoir after Sonia Delaunay (1885–1979), titled Planche No. 8 (Plate No. 8), from the folio Compositions, couleurs, idees, Sonia Delaunay (Compositions...

This is a modernist view of a New York City park. It's interesting because we're given so much detail and yet it's drawing style also keep things hidden. Really I think it's about Cu...

Rue Caulaincourt Etching and engraving, 1931 Initialed in the plate (see photo) Edition: 77 Plate 10 from "Plaches de Salut" Published by Aux Editions Jeanne Bucher, Paris Rue Caulai...

This exquisite lithograph and pochoir after Sonia Delaunay (1885–1979), titled Planche No. 28 (Plate No. 28), from the folio Compositions, couleurs, idees, Sonia Delaunay (Compositio...