1950s Abstract Prints

This exquisite lithograph by Pablo Picasso (1881–1973), titled Le cavalier bleu (The Blue Rider), from Verve, Revue Artistique et Litteraire, Vol. VII, No. 25–26, originates from the...

This exquisite lithograph by Jean Cocteau (1889–1963), titled Scene XXXIX, Theatre de Poche (Scene XXXIX, Pocket Theater), originates from the 1957 album Jean Cocteau de l'Academie f...

Artist: Pablo Picasso Title: Paloma Medium: Lithograph Date: 1950 Edition: 2000 Frame Size: 20 3/4" x 18" Sheet Size: 12 3/4" x 9 3/4" Reference: Cramer 60

This exquisite lithograph by Joan Miro (1893–1983), titled Sans titre (Untitled), originates from the 1956 publication Joan Miro. Published by Maeght Editeur, Paris, and printed by M...

Artist: Pablo Picasso Title: Le Ballet Medium: Lithograph Date: 1954 Edition: 10,000 Framed Size: 20 1/4" x 16 3/4" Sheet Size: 12 1/2" x 8 3/4" Signature: Signed in the stone Refere...

This exquisite lithograph by Jean Cocteau (1889–1963), titled Scene XXXV, Bacchus (Scene XXXV, Bacchus), originates from the 1957 album Jean Cocteau de l'Academie francaise, Theatre,...

This exquisite lithograph by Jean Cocteau (1889–1963), titled Scene VII, Romeo et Juliette (Scene VII, Romeo and Juliet), originates from the 1957 album Jean Cocteau de l'Academie fr...

This exquisite lithograph by Jean Cocteau (1889–1963), titled Antigone VI (Antigone VI), originates from the 1957 album Jean Cocteau de l'Academie francaise, Theatre, Edition ornee p...

This exquisite heliogravure after Henri Matisse (1869–1954), titled Mademoiselle M.A. (Miss M.A.), from the album Portraits par Henri Matisse (Portraits by Henri Matisse), originates...

This exquisite lithograph and pochoir by Lucio Fontana (1899–1968), titled Concetto Spaziale (Spatial Concept), from the album XXe siecle, Nouvelle serie, XXIe Annee, No. 12, Mai-Jui...

This exquisite lithograph by Ellsworth Kelly (1923–2015), titled Forme Orange (Orange Shape), originates from the historic 1958 folio Derriere le Miroir, No. 110. Published by Maeght...

This exquisite lithograph after Henri Matisse (1869–1954), titled Mademoiselle L.L. (Miss L.L.), from the album Portraits par Henri Matisse (Portraits by Henri Matisse), originates f...

This exquisite lithograph by Joan Miro (1893–1983), titled Les Trois Bleus (The Three Blues), from the folio Derriere le miroir, Sur Quatre Murs (Behind the Mirror, On Four Walls), N...

Pablo Picasso The Ballet Dancer, 1954 Lithograph on paper 32 x 24 cm - sheet 55.5 x 49.5 cm - Framed unknown edition size Printed signature Reference: Bloch #767 and Mourlot #259 Fr...

This exquisite lithograph and pochoir by Joan Miro (1893–1983), titled Femme et oiseau dans la nuit (Woman and Bird in the Night), from the album XXe Siecle, Nouvelle serie No. 8, or...

This exquisite lithograph by Jean Cocteau (1889–1963), titled Scene XXIII, Les Monstres Sacres (Scene XXIII, The Sacred Monsters), originates from the 1957 album Jean Cocteau de l'Ac...

This exquisite lithograph by Alexander Calder (1898–1976), titled Sans titre (Untitled), from the album XXe Siecle, Nouvelle serie No. 3 (double), Juin 1952, originates from the 1952...

"Superficie 324" is a 1988 screen print (serigraph) of a 1959 painting by Capogrossi. This is one of his famous "comb" or "fork" works that he perfected in the 1950s and continued to create for the remainder of his life. The blocks of primary red and yellow colors give a bright, joyful feel and contrast to the strong bold black that was Capogrossi's consistent color for the "combs". With no allegorical, psychological, or symbolic meanings, these structural elements could be assembled and connected in countless variations. Intricate and insistent, Capogrossi's signs determined the construction of the pictorial surface. This piece is identified along one side: Giuseppe Capogrossi By SIAE 1988 Silvio Zamorani Editor Via Saccarelli, 9 10144 Torino Italy Tel. (39)(11) 4730554 Progetto Grafico (Graphic Project): Studio Walter Benjamin. Serigrafia (Screen Print): BISI Torino. Capogrossi was born in Rome. After obtaining a degree in law in 1923–1924, he decided to study painting with Felice Carena at Accademia di Belle Arti di Roma. In 1927 Capogrossi embarked on a formative trip to Paris together with fellow artists and acquaintances Fausto Pirandello, Corrado Cagli and Emanuele Cavalli...

This exquisite lithograph and pochoir after Fernand Leger (1881–1955), titled Nature Morte au Journal (Still Life with Newspaper), from the folio Contrastes, 13 Aquarelles, Gouache, ...

This exquisite linocut after Henri Matisse (1869–1954), titled Teeny (Teeny), from the album XXe Siecle, Nouvelle serie, XXIe Annee, No. 13, Noel 1959, originates from the 1959 edition published by Societe Internationale dArt XXe Siecle, Paris, under the direction of Gualtieri di San Lazzaro, editeur, Paris, and printed by Mourlot Freres, Paris, 1959. Teeny reflects Matisses continuing exploration of distilled form, graphic clarity, and expressive contour during his late career. Executed as a linocut on velin paper, this work measures 12.5 x 9.75 inches. Unsigned and unnumbered as issued. The edition exemplifies the superb craftsmanship of Mourlot Freres, Paris Artwork Details: Artist: After Henri Matisse (1869–1954) Title: Teeny (Teeny) Medium: Linocut on velin paper Dimensions: 12.5 x 9.75 inches (31.75 x 24.77 cm) Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered as issued Date: 1959 Publisher: Societe Internationale dArt XXe Siecle, Paris, under the direction of Gualtieri di San Lazzaro, editeur, Paris Printer: Mourlot Freres, Paris Catalogue raisonne reference: Matisse, Henri, et al. Henri Matisse: Catalogue Raisonne de Loeuvre Grave Etabli Avec La Collaboration de Francoise Garnaud. C. Duthuit, 1983, illustration 723 Condition: Well preserved, consistent with age and medium Provenance: From the album XXe Siecle, Nouvelle serie, XXIe Annee, No. 13, Noel 1959, published by Societe Internationale dArt XXe Siecle, Paris; printed by Mourlot Freres, Paris, 1959 About the Publication: Gualtieri di San Lazzaros XXe Siecle (Twentieth Century) was one of the most influential art journals of the modern era, founded in Paris in 1938 as a platform for the greatest painters, sculptors, and writers of the 20th century. San Lazzaro, a visionary editor, critic, and champion of modernism, believed that art and literature should coexist as expressions of a shared human imagination. Under his direction, XXe Siecle became a cultural bridge between Europe and the wider world, publishing special issues devoted to leading figures such as Picasso, Matisse, Chagall, Braque, Calder, Miro, Kandinsky, and Leger. Each edition combined essays by renowned critics and poets with original lithographs, linocuts, and woodcuts printed by the foremost ateliers of Paris, Milan, and New York, including Mourlot, Curwen, Atelier Lacouriere, and Amilcare Pizzi, creating a uniquely rich dialogue between text and image. The 1959 issue, XXIe Annee, No. 13, presented a remarkable selection of original prints that showcased the vitality of European modernism at mid century. Today, XXe Siecle remains an essential record of 20th century modernism, celebrated for its seamless integration of fine art, literature, and design. About the Artist: Henri Matisse (1869–1954) was a French painter, sculptor, draughtsman, and printmaker whose revolutionary vision redefined modern art through his daring use of color, line, and form. Celebrated as one of the greatest artists of the 20th century, Matisse led the Fauvist movement and devoted his life to the pursuit of balance, beauty, and emotional expression in visual art. His early works burst with vibrant hues and liberated brushwork, while his later cut out compositions achieved a poetic simplicity that transformed the relationship between color and space. Deeply influenced by the work of Paul Cezanne, Vincent van Gogh, and Georges Seurat, as well as by the rhythmic patterns of Islamic art, Byzantine mosaics, and Japanese prints, Matisse forged a new visual language that celebrated joy, movement, and serenity. He was part of an extraordinary generation of artists who shaped the evolution of modernism, maintaining lifelong dialogue and friendly rivalry with contemporaries such as Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, Marc Chagall, Andre Derain, Albert Marquet, and Raoul Dufy peers who, like him, sought to expand the expressive potential of color and composition. Matisses influence extended across generations, inspiring modern and contemporary masters including Alexander Calder, Alberto Giacometti, Salvador Dali, Joan Miro, Wassily Kandinsky, Marcel Duchamp, and Man Ray, each of whom drew upon his fearless experimentation and refined visual harmony. His paintings, sculptures, and works on paper are held in the most prestigious museums in the world, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Centre Pompidou, the Tate, and the Hermitage Museum, where his art continues to symbolize the essence of creativity and human emotion. The highest price ever paid for a Henri Matisse artwork is approximately 80.8 million USD, achieved in 2018 at Christies New York for Odalisque couchee aux magnolias (1923). Henri Matisse linocut...

This exquisite lithograph by Jean Dubuffet (1901–1985), titled Le Guerrier (The Warrior), from the album XXe Siecle, Nouvelle serie, XXe Annee, No. 10 (double), Mars 1958, originates...

Original poster. Linen-backed original Swiss poster "AARAU LADET EIN" An old travel poster with a modern flair to visit Aarau. It has a bea...

Color lithograph on cream wove paper, 1956. Edition of 200. Printed by Mourlout, Paris.

This exquisite lithograph by Joan Miro (1893–1983), titled Sans titre (Untitled), originates from the 1956 publication Joan Miro. Published by Maeght Editeur, Paris, and printed by M...

This exquisite lithograph by Marc Chagall (1887–1985), titled Le Cavalier et l’oiseau (The Horseman and the Bird), from Contes de Boccace, peintures du manuscrit des ducs de Bourgogn...

This exquisite lithograph and pochoir after Georges Braque (1882–1963), titled Etude oiseaux (Study of Birds), from the album Georges Braque, Le Solitaire (The Solitary), originates ...

This exquisite lithograph and pochoir by Sonia Delaunay (1885–1979), titled Sans titre (Untitled), from the album XXe Siecle, Nouvelle serie, No. 7 (double), Juin 1956, originates fr...

This exquisite lithograph after Henri Matisse (1869–1954), titled Madame L.D. (Mrs. L.D.), from the album Portraits par Henri Matisse (Portraits by Henri Matisse), originates from th...

This exquisite lithograph by Jean Cocteau (1889–1963), titled Scene VIII, Romeo et Juliette (Scene VIII, Romeo and Juliet), originates from the 1957 album Jean Cocteau de l'Academie ...

Alexander Calder Rocks and Sun, 1952 Original Lithograph (3 color stones) Printed in Mourlot workshop On vellum 31 x 24 cm (c. 12,2 x 9,5 in) Edited by San Lazzaro in 1952 Very goo...

This exquisite lithograph after Juan Gris (1887–1927), titled Guitare (Guitar), from the folio Au Soleil du Plafond (In the Sunlight of the Ceiling), originates from the 1955 edition...

Artist: Eric Newton, British (1893 - 1965) Title: Untitled - Abstract with Red and Yellow Year: circa 1955 Medium: Linocut Print, signed and numbered in pencil Edition: EA Image Size...

Artist: Joan Miro Title: Joan Miro (Plate 2) Portfolio: Joan Miro Medium: Lithograph Date: 1956 Edition: Unnumbered Frame Size: 17" x 24" Sheet Size: 9" x 15" Signature: Unsigned Ref...

This exquisite lithograph by Marc Chagall (1887–1985), titled Les Amoureux sous la Lune (The Lovers under the Moon), from Contes de Boccace, peintures du manuscrit des ducs de Bourgogne, Bibliotheque de l'Arsenal (Ms. no. 5193) (Tales of Boccaccio, Paintings from the Manuscript of the Dukes of Burgundy, Library of the Arsenal), Lavis de Marc Chagall, from Verve, Revue Artistique et Litteraire, Vol. VI, No. 24, originates from the 1950 issue published by Editions de la revue Verve, Paris, under the direction of Teriade, Editeur, Paris, and printed by Draeger Freres, Maitres-Imprimeurs, Paris, 1950. This tender and poetic composition exemplifies Chagall’s lifelong fascination with love, dream, and transcendence. Les Amoureux sous la Lune radiates intimacy and serenity, its nocturnal palette and floating forms capturing the timeless romance between lovers united under the moon’s luminous gaze. Executed as a lithograph on velin du Marais paper, this work measures 14 x 10.5 inches. Unsigned and unnumbered as issued. The edition exemplifies the exquisite craftsmanship of the Draeger Freres atelier, celebrated for its precision and tonal richness in printing fine artworks. Artwork Details: Artist: Marc Chagall (1887–1985) Title: Les Amoureux sous la Lune (The Lovers under the Moon), from Contes de Boccace (Tales of Boccaccio), Verve, Revue Artistique et Litteraire, Vol. VI, No. 24, 1950 Medium: Lithograph on velin du Marais paper Dimensions: 14 x 10.5 inches Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered as issued Date: 1950 Publisher: Editions de la revue Verve, Paris, under the direction of Teriade, Editeur, Paris Printer: Draeger Freres, Maitres-Imprimeurs, Paris Condition: Well preserved, consistent with age and medium Provenance: From Verve, Revue Artistique et Litteraire, Vol. VI, No. 24, published by Editions de la revue Verve, Paris, 1950 Notes: Excerpted from the album (translated from French), This Verve issue contains the lavis that Marc Chagall composed to illustrate Tales of Boccaccio's Decameron and the paintings on the same theme of the Manuscript of the Dukes of Burgundy preserved in the Arsenal Library. Marc Chagall executed the cover of this work which was completed printing on April 20, 1950 on the presses of Maitres-Imprimeurs, the Draeger Freres. About the Publication: This 1950 issue of Verve, Revue Artistique et Litteraire, titled Contes de Boccace (Tales of Boccaccio), was devoted to the great Italian humanist Giovanni Boccaccio and illuminated manuscripts from the 15th century, interpreted and revived through the eyes of modern artists. Under the artistic direction of Teriade, Marc Chagall contributed a series of lyrical paintings and lavis that reimagined these Renaissance themes with his signature dreamlike color, tenderness, and spiritual symbolism. The issue juxtaposed Chagall’s contemporary vision with the rich heritage of medieval illumination, bridging centuries of artistic imagination. Printed by the master craftsmen of Draeger Freres, the publication stands as a testament to Verve’s tradition of uniting art, literature, and history in one luxurious volume that celebrates the continuity of human creativity from the Middle Ages to modernity. About the Artist: Marc Chagall (1887–1985) was a Belarus-born French painter, printmaker, and designer whose visionary imagination, radiant color, and deeply poetic symbolism made him one of the most beloved and influential artists of the 20th century. Rooted in the imagery of his Jewish heritage and the memories of his childhood in Vitebsk, Chagall’s art wove together themes of faith, love, folklore, and fantasy with a dreamlike modern sensibility. His unique style—merging elements of Cubism, Fauvism, Expressionism, and Surrealism—defied categorization, transforming ordinary scenes into lyrical meditations on memory and emotion. Influenced by Russian icon painting, medieval religious art, and the modern innovations of artists such as Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and Georges Braque, Chagall developed a profoundly personal visual language filled with floating figures, vibrant animals, musicians, and lovers that symbolized the transcendent power of imagination and love. During his early years in Paris, he became an integral part of the Ecole de Paris circle, forming friendships with Amedeo Modigliani, Fernand Leger, and Sonia Delaunay, and his creative spirit resonated with that of his peers and successors—Alexander Calder, Alberto Giacometti, Salvador Dali, Joan Miro, Wassily Kandinsky, Marcel Duchamp, and Man Ray—artists who, like Chagall, sought to push the boundaries of perception, emotion, and form. Over a prolific career that spanned painting, printmaking, stained glass, ceramics, and stage design, Chagall brought an unparalleled poetic sensibility to modern art, infusing even the most abstract subjects with human warmth and spiritual depth. His works are held in the most prestigious museums around the world, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Centre Pompidou, the Tate, and the Guggenheim, where they continue to inspire generations of artists and collectors. The highest price ever paid for a Marc Chagall artwork is approximately $28.5 million USD, achieved in 2017 at Sotheby’s New York for Les Amoureux (1928). Marc Chagall Les...

This exquisite lithograph by Alexander Calder (1898–1976), titled Soleil orange (Orange Sun), from the folio Derriere le miroir, No. 69–70, originates from the 1954 edition published by Maeght Editeur, Paris, and printed by Mourlot Freres, Paris, 1954. This work captures Calder’s mastery of motion, balance, and vibrant color through the spontaneous energy of his abstract forms, embodying the rhythmic harmony and visual poetry that defined his art. Executed as a lithograph on velin paper, this work measures 15 x 11 inches. Unsigned and unnumbered as issued. The edition exemplifies the superb craftsmanship of Mourlot Freres, Paris. Artwork Details: Artist: Alexander Calder (1898–1976) Title: Soleil orange (Orange Sun), from the folio Derriere le miroir, No. 69–70 Medium: Lithograph on velin paper Dimensions: 15 x 11 inches (38.1 x 27.9 cm) Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered as issued Date: 1954 Publisher: Maeght Editeur, Paris Printer: Mourlot Freres, Paris Condition: Well preserved, consistent with age and medium Provenance: From the folio Derriere le miroir, No. 69–70, published by Maeght Editeur, Paris; printed by Mourlot Freres, Paris, 1954 About the Publication: Derriere le miroir (Behind the Mirror) was one of the most important art publications of the 20th century, created and published by Maeght Editeur in Paris from 1946 to 1982. Founded by the visionary art dealer and publisher Aime Maeght, the series served as both an exhibition catalogue and a work of art in its own right, uniting original lithographs by leading modern and contemporary artists with critical essays, poetry, and design of the highest quality. Printed by master lithographers such as Mourlot Freres and Arte, Derriere le miroir became synonymous with the artistic vanguard of postwar Europe. Each issue was devoted to a single artist or theme and published to accompany exhibitions at the Galerie Maeght in Paris, featuring works by Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Georges Braque, Joan Miro, Marc Chagall, Alexander Calder, Fernand Leger, and Alberto Giacometti, among others. The publication reflected Maeght’s belief that art should be both accessible and elevated—an ideal realized through its luxurious production values, meticulous printing, and collaboration with the greatest creative minds of its time. About the Artist: Alexander Calder (1898–1976) was an American sculptor, painter, and printmaker whose pioneering innovations in kinetic art revolutionized 20th-century sculpture and transformed modern visual language. Born in Lawnton, Pennsylvania, into a family of artists, Calder initially trained as a mechanical engineer at the Stevens Institute of Technology before turning to art at the Art Students League in New York—a combination of technical precision and creative imagination that defined his career. Moving to Paris in 1926, he immersed himself in the avant-garde and formed friendships with Pablo Picasso, Alberto Giacometti, Joan Miro, Wassily Kandinsky, Salvador Dali, Marcel Duchamp, and Man Ray, whose ideas profoundly shaped his artistic philosophy. From Picasso, he absorbed structural invention; from Miro, lyrical abstraction; from Kandinsky, spiritual geometry; and from Duchamp and Man Ray, the courage to merge intellect and play. In Paris, Calder created his famous Cirque Calder, a miniature mechanical circus that introduced motion and performance as central components of sculpture, and by the early 1930s, he invented the mobile—a term coined by Duchamp—to describe his delicately balanced, moving sculptures that responded to air currents. Later, Jean Arp would name his stationary counterparts stabiles. These two inventions—sculptures that could either float and spin gracefully or stand monumentally still—transformed art into a dynamic dialogue between movement, balance, and space. Calder’s signature forms, painted in vivid reds, blacks, blues, and yellows, embodied both joy and precision, creating an art that was at once abstract, organic, and deeply human. Like Kandinsky and Miro, he viewed art as a form of rhythm and emotion; like Duchamp, he embraced innovation and humor; and like Giacometti and Dali, he was fascinated by perception, structure, and the unseen forces of motion. His monumental public sculptures—such as La Grande Vitesse (1969) in Grand Rapids and Flamingo (1973) in Chicago—redefined public art as a symbol of civic optimism and modern progress. A key bridge between European modernism and American abstraction, Calder’s influence extended to artists including Jean Tinguely, George Rickey, Donald Judd, Ellsworth Kelly, Richard Serra, and Olafur Eliasson, whose works in kinetic and spatial art continue to echo his vision. His gouaches, prints, and jewelry carried the same balance and movement as his sculptures, revealing a unified language of rhythm across media. Represented in every major modern museum—including MoMA, the Guggenheim, the Tate, and the Centre Pompidou—Calder remains celebrated for merging engineering, color, and poetry into an art of pure equilibrium. Standing alongside Pablo Picasso, Alexander Calder, Alberto Giacometti, Salvador Dali, Joan Miro, Wassily Kandinsky, Marcel Duchamp, and Man Ray, he remains one of the cornerstones of modern art—a visionary whose works breathe with motion, grace, and joy. His highest auction record was achieved by Poisson Volant (Flying Fish) (1957), which sold for $25.9 million at Christie’s, New York, on May 15, 2014, reaffirming Alexander Calder’s enduring legacy as one of the most inventive, dynamic, and collectible artists in the history of modern art. Alexander Calder Soleil...

Pierre SOULAGES (1919-2022) Etching IV, 1957 Original etching (Lacourière workshop) Signed in pencil Numbered / 100 On BFK Rives vellum, 32.5 x 25 (c 13 x 10 in) Presented in woodfr...

This exquisite lithograph by Jean Cocteau (1889–1963), titled Scene XXXVIII, Bacchus (Scene XXXVIII, Bacchus), originates from the 1957 album Jean Cocteau de l'Academie francaise, Th...

Pierre SOULAGES Composition in Black and Blue, 1956 Lithograph and stencil (Jacomet workshop) Unsigned On wove paper 31 x 24 cm (c. 12.2 x 9.4 inches) Edited by San Lazaro in 1956 ...

This exquisite lithograph by Ellsworth Kelly (1923–2015), titled Bleu et noir (Blue and Black), originates from the historic 1958 folio Derriere le Miroir, No. 110. Published by Maeg...

Ralston Crawford is best known for his Precisionist abstract paintings suggestive of urban landscapes and industrial spaces. SS De Grasse by Ralston Crawford, American (1906–1978) ...

Lithograph, 1957 Handsigned by the artist in pencil and numbered 87/100 Publisher : Editions le Musée de Poche, Paris Printer : Jean Pons Catalog : [Polieri 1747] 66.00 cm. x 50.00 c...

Artist: Ellsworth Kelly (American, 1923-2015) Title: "Galerie Maeght" Year: 1958 Medium: Original Lithograph, Exhibition Poster on light wove paper Limited edition: Unknown Printer: ...

This exquisite lithograph after Henri Matisse (1869–1954), titled Mademoiselle A.N. (Miss A.N.), from the album Portraits par Henri Matisse (Portraits by Henri Matisse), originates f...

Lithograph on vélin paper. Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From Derrière le miroir, N° 115, 1959. Published by Aimé Maeght, Éditeur, Paris; pr...

This exquisite lithograph after Wassily Kandinsky (1866–1944), titled Komposition Weiss auf Schwarz (Composition White on Black), from the folio Derriere le miroir, No. 101–103, orig...

This exquisite lithograph by Pablo Palazuelo (1916–2007), titled Sans titre (Untitled), from the folio Derriere le miroir, Tendance, No. 50, originates from the 1952 edition publishe...

This exquisite lithograph by Alberto Magnelli (1888–1971), titled Sans titre (Untitled), from the album XXe Siecle, Nouvelle serie No. 3 (double), Juin 1952, originates from the 1952...

This exquisite lithograph by Jean Cocteau (1889–1963), titled Scene XXXIII, L'Aigle a Deux Tetes (Scene XXXIII, The Eagle with Two Heads), originates from the 1957 album Jean Cocteau...

This exquisite lithograph and pochoir after Georges Braque (1882–1963), titled L’arbre (The Tree), from the album Georges Braque, Le Solitaire (The Solitary), originates from the 195...

This exquisite lithograph by Serge Poliakoff (1900–1969), titled Sans titre (Untitled), from the album XXe Siecle, Nouvelle serie, No. 7 (double), Juin 1956, originates from the 1956...

This exquisite lithograph after Henri Matisse (1869–1954), titled La danse (The Dance), from the album Douze Contemporains (Twelve Contemporaries), originates from the 1959 edition p...

Untitled Color lithograph, 1959 Unsigned (as issued) From: Derriere Le Miroir, No. 113, 1959 Publisher: Editions Pierre a Feu Editor: A. Maeght Small edition as it appeared in the ma...

This exquisite lithograph after Wassily Kandinsky (1866–1944), titled Komposition IV (Composition IV), from the folio Derriere le miroir, No. 77–78, originates from the 1955 edition ...

This exquisite lithograph after Henri Matisse (1869–1954), titled Madame Greta Prozor (Mrs. Greta Prozor), from the album Portraits par Henri Matisse (Portraits by Henri Matisse), or...

This exquisite lithograph and pochoir after Sophie Taeuber-Arp (1889–1943), titled Composition verticale-horizontale sur fond blanc (Vertical-Horizontal Composition on White Ground),...

Lithograph on vélin paper. Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From Derrière le miroir, N° 115, 1959. Published by Aimé Maeght, Éditeur, Paris; pr...

Stanley William Hayter, 'Feu sous L'eau (Fire Under Water)', color engraving, soft-ground etching and scorper with yellow silkscreen, 1955, edition 50 plus 10 artist proofs, Black & Moorhead 221. Signed, titled 'Fire Under Water', dated and annotated 'Essai' in pencil. Dedicated in the artist’s hand 'for Adja & Dove WH Bill 17–5–55' in the top margin. A superb, richly inked impression with fresh colors, on heavy, cream wove paper; wide margins (2 1/2 to 3 7/8 inches), in excellent condition. One of 10 artist’s proofs. Image size 10 3/16 x 7 inches; sheet size 18 1/8 x 12 1/4 inches. Matted to museum standards, unframed. ABOUT THIS WORK In 1950 Hayter returned to Paris and reopened Atelier 17. Works such as 'Fire Under Water' reveal newfound influences, such as that of the Ardèche area of southern France, where he acquired a house in 1951 and frequently visited. Hayter took great interest in the flowing Escoutay River, an experience that parallels the artist and co-director of Atelier 17 Krishna Reddy’s interest in depicting water. While some forms in this print evoke the natural world, the palette of contrasting tones of purple, yellow, black, and white reflects Hayter’s belief in using color intuitively to express emotions and evoke feelings. The sharp white relief lines from the paper and the textural effects realized through soft-ground etching operate in tandem with the sweeping curves and bold colors to give the composition a sense of vitality and dynamism. —edited from the Metropolitan Museum of Art Published by 'La Jeune Gravure Contemporaine', Paris. Impressions of this work are in the following collections: British Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art, National Gallery of Art. 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 studio in Paris, now known as Atelier Contrepoint. Among the artists he is credited with influencing are Pablo Picasso, Alberto Giacometti, Joan Miró, Alexander Calder, and Marc Chagall. The hallmark of the workshop was its egalitarian structure, breaking sharply with the traditional French engraving studios by insisting on a cooperative approach to labor and technical discoveries. In 1929 Hayter was introduced to Surrealism by Yves Tanguy and André Masson, who, with other Surrealists, worked with Hayter at Atelier 17. The often violent imagery of Hayter’s Surrealist period was stimulated in part by his passionate response to the Spanish Civil War and the rise of Fascism. He organized portfolios of graphic works to raise funds for the Spanish cause, including Solidarité (Paris, 1938), a portfolio of seven prints, one of them by Picasso. Hayter frequently exhibited with the Surrealists during the 1930s but left the movement when Paul Eluard was expelled. Eluard’s poem Facile Proie (1939) was written in response to a set of Hayter’s engravings. Other writers with whom Hayter collaborated included Samuel Beckett and Georges Hugnet. Hayter joined the exile of the Parisian avant-garde in 1939, moving with his second wife, the American sculptor Helen Phillips...

This exquisite lithograph by Giuseppe Capogrossi (1900–1972), titled Sin titulo I (Untitled I), from the album XXe Siecle, Nouvelle serie, XXe Annee, No. 10 (double), Mars 1958, orig...

This exquisite lithograph by Jean Cocteau (1889–1963), titled Scene XXXIV, L'Aigle a Deux Tetes (Scene XXXIV, The Eagle with Two Heads), originates from the 1957 album Jean Cocteau d...

Artist: Alexander Calder Title: Derriere Le Miroir No. 141, Cover Year: 1963 Dimensions: 15" x 11" Published by Maeght Editeur Excellent condition