This exquisite lithograph by Joan Miro (1893–1983), titled Lithograph III, from the album Joan Miro Lithographs, Volume IV 1969–1972, originates from the 1981 edition published by Maeght Editeur, Paris, and printed by Mourlot Freres, Paris, August 31, 1981. Lithograph III reflects Miros poetic mastery of line, movement, and color, capturing his lifelong pursuit of visual rhythm and lyrical abstraction. Combining spontaneity and control, this composition embodies Miros signature balance of playful geometry and poetic energy—translating instinct and imagination into a harmonious field of motion and light.
Executed as a lithograph on velin paper, this work measures 12.5 x 9.625 inches. Unsigned and unnumbered as issued. The edition exemplifies the refined craftsmanship and technical mastery of Mourlot Freres, Paris, one of the foremost printmaking ateliers of the 20th century.
Artwork Details:
Artist: Joan Miro (1893–1983)
Title: Lithograph III, from the album Joan Miro Lithographs, Volume IV 1969–1972, 1981
Medium: Lithograph on velin paper
Dimensions: 12.5 x 9.625 inches (31.8 x 24.4 cm)
Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered as issued
Date: 1981
Publisher: Maeght Editeur, Paris
Printer: Mourlot Freres, Paris
Catalogue raisonne references: Cramer, Patrick, and Joan Miro. Joan Miro, Catalogue Raisonne Des Livres Illustres. P. Cramer, 1989, illustration 249. Miro, Joan, and Patrick Cramer. Joan Miro: VI 1976–1981. Maeght, 1992, illustration 1257.
Condition: Well preserved, consistent with age and medium
Provenance: From the album Joan Miro Lithographs, Volume IV 1969–1972, published by Maeght Editeur, Paris; printed by Mourlot Freres, Paris, August 31, 1981
Notes:
Excerpted from the album, Final printing in Paris on 31 August 1981 at Imprimerte Moderne du Lion. The wide margin lithographs as well as the supplementary lithographs were printed by the Mourlot press. Documentation: Brigitte Videcoq. I̅V̅ examples of this English language edition, numbered I- I̅V̅, have been printed. A deluxe edition of CL examples, numbered I- CL, with two additional original lithographs signed by Joan Miro, and LXXX suites, numbered I-LXXX, containing the VIII original lithographs on velin with wide margins and with each lithograph signed by the artist, have also been printed.
About the Publication:
Joan Miro Lithographs, Volume IV 1969–1972, published in 1981 by Maeght Editeur, Paris, represents the culminating volume of the definitive four-part catalogue series devoted to Miros original lithographs. Printed by Mourlot Freres and completed on August 31, 1981, the volume documents the final phase of Miros printmaking career, uniting eight original lithographs with scholarly commentary and documentation compiled by Brigitte Videcoq. The album exemplifies the collaboration between Miro and the renowned Maeght and Mourlot workshops, which together set the benchmark for 20th-century fine art lithography. Each plate embodies Miros mastery of line, gesture, and chromatic resonance, capturing the dynamic interplay between intuition and structure that defines his late work. As both a visual record and an aesthetic testament, Volume IV serves as a culmination of decades of creative partnership between Miro and his printers, reflecting a synthesis of technical innovation, lyrical freedom, and poetic abstraction that continues to inspire collectors and scholars worldwide.
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. Miros 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, Miros 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 GBP (approximately 37 million USD) at Sotheby's, London, on June 19, 2012.
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