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 published by Editions de la revue Verve, Paris, under the direction of Teriade, Editeur, Paris, and printed by Mourlot Freres, Paris, 1938. This vibrant composition captures Rattner’s lyrical approach to color and form, uniting spiritual symbolism with the expressive vitality of modernism. L'automne reflects the artist’s fascination with nature’s cycles and the emotional resonance of transformation, conveyed through rich hues, bold contours, and a dynamic interplay of abstraction and figuration. The work exemplifies Rattner’s ability to synthesize European avant-garde influences into a deeply personal visual language that bridges mysticism, emotion, and intellect.
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 exemplifies the superb craftsmanship of the Mourlot Freres atelier, renowned for its collaborations with leading modernists of the 20th century.
Artwork Details:
Artist: Abraham Rattner (1895–1978)
Title: L'automne (Autumn), from Verve, Revue Artistique et Litteraire, Vol. I, No. 3, 1938
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: 1938
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. 3, published by Editions de la revue Verve, Paris, 1938
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 ateliers 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 early issues of Verve, such as the 1938 volume featuring works by Rattner, exemplified the publication’s commitment to artistic innovation and the celebration of modern visual culture.
About the Artist:
Abraham Rattner (1895–1978) was an American painter and printmaker celebrated for his vibrant color, spiritual symbolism, and emotionally charged fusion of modernism and mysticism. Born in Poughkeepsie, New York, to Russian-Jewish immigrant parents, Rattner trained at the Corcoran School of Art and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts before serving in the U.S. Army’s camouflage unit during World War I—a formative experience that informed his later fascination with pattern and distortion. After the war, he settled in Paris, immersing himself in the avant-garde alongside Alexander Calder, Alberto Giacometti, Salvador Dali, Joan Miro, Wassily Kandinsky, Marcel Duchamp, and Man Ray, absorbing influences from Cubism, Surrealism, and Expressionism. His bold compositions, radiant jewel tones, and black-contoured forms evoke stained glass and spiritual illumination, bridging sacred and modern worlds. Rattner’s art reflects both the intellectual vigor of his Parisian peers and the profound humanism that defined his career, inspiring later generations of artists in Neo-Expressionism and contemporary figurative abstraction. His works continue to command global interest among museums and collectors alike. The artist’s auction record stands with “Two Figures and Masks, Composition #3,” which sold for $25,000 at Sotheby’s, New York, on October 20, 2016.
Abraham Rattner L'automne, Rattner Verve, Rattner Mourlot Freres, Rattner Teriade, Rattner 1938 lithograph, Rattner velin paper, Rattner Revue Artistique et Litteraire, Rattner collectible print, Rattner modernist lithograph.