1950s Abstract Prints

This exquisite heliogravure after Henri Matisse (1869–1954), titled Mademoiselle Jacqueline Matisse (Miss Jacqueline Matisse), from the album Portraits par Henri Matisse (Portraits b...

This exquisite collotype after Pablo Picasso (1881–1973), titled Cranes et tetes de Meduse (Skulls and Heads of Medusa), originates from the rare 1957 folio 40 dessins de Picasso en ...

This exquisite lithograph by Marc Chagall (1887–1985), titled Le Roi (The King), from Contes de Boccace, peintures du manuscrit des ducs de Bourgogne, Bibliotheque de l'Arsenal (Ms. ...

An important abstract expressionist color aquatint etching by the celebrated African American artist (1921-2018), titled "An Anatomy of Aphrodite", signed & dated 1959. Colescott was...

This exquisite collotype after Pablo Picasso (1881–1973), titled from the portfolio Picasso, Carnet de la Californie, originates from the rare 1959 folio published by Editions Cercle...

This exquisite collotype after Pablo Picasso (1881–1973), from the portfolio Picasso, Carnet de la Californie, originates from the rare 1959 folio published by Editions Cercle d'Art,...

This exquisite lithograph after Maurice de Vlaminck (1876–1958), titled Chatou à l'arbre rouge (Chatou with the Red Tree), from the album Vlaminck, originates from the 1958 edition p...

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

Autograph, 1957 Handsigned by the artist in pencil and annotated "Epreuve artiste" Edition : 100 + EA Publisher : Hans Hartung Printer : Jean Pons, Paris Catalog : [RMM 108] 65.50 c...

This exquisite lithograph after Alberto Giacometti (1901–1966), titled Nu debout (Standing Nude), from the folio Derriere le miroir, No. 65, originates from the 1954 edition publishe...

This exquisite collotype after Pablo Picasso (1881–1973), titled from the portfolio Picasso, Carnet de la Californie, originates from the rare 1959 folio published by Editions Cercle...

This exquisite etching after Alberto Giacometti (1901–1966), titled Annette de Face (Annette, Frontal View), from the folio Derriere le miroir, 10 Ans d'Edition 1946-1956, No. 92-93, originates from the 1956 edition published by Maeght Editeur, Paris, and printed by Atelier Crommelynck, Paris, 1956. This work exemplifies Giacometti’s mastery of line and existential sensitivity, capturing the haunting stillness and psychological intensity of his wife and muse, Annette. Executed as an etching, cuivre rayé apres tirage on velin paper, this work measures 15 x 11 inches overall; 8.07 x 2.28 inches image size. Unsigned and unnumbered as issued. The edition exemplifies the superb craftsmanship of Atelier Crommelynck, Paris. Artwork Details: Artist: After Alberto Giacometti (1901–1966) Title: Annette de Face (Annette, Frontal View), from the folio Derriere le miroir, 10 Ans d'Edition 1946-1956, No. 92-93 Medium: Etching, cuivre rayé apres tirage on velin paper Dimensions: 15 x 11 inches, overall; 8.07 x 2.28 inches, image size (38.1 x 27.94 cm; 20.5 x 5.8 cm) Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered as issued Date: 1956 Publisher: Maeght Editeur, Paris Printer: Atelier Crommelynck, Paris Condition: Well preserved, consistent with age and medium Provenance: From the folio Derriere le miroir, 10 Ans d'Edition 1946-1956, No. 92-93, published by Maeght Editeur, Paris; printed by Atelier Crommelynck, Paris, 1956 Notes: Excerpted from the folio (translated from French), This catalogue, forming a special issue of Derriere le miroir, was completed in October 1956 on the presses of Draeger Freres on behalf of Aime Maeght, Editeur. The original lithographs of Miro, Chagall and Bazaine were shot by Mourlot Freres. The eaux-fortes rayees of Miro and Giacometti were shot by Crommelynck. Raoul Ubac composed and pulled the engraved wood from the cover. The photographs of Braque's reproduced works are by Mr. Routhier. Those of the other artists of Y. Hervochon. 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: Alberto Giacometti (1901–1966) was a Swiss sculptor, painter, and draughtsman whose hauntingly elongated figures and existential vision redefined modern art and made him one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. Born in Borgonovo, Switzerland, into an artistic family—his father, Giovanni Giacometti, was a noted Post-Impressionist—he was immersed in art from an early age before studying in Geneva and moving to Paris in 1922, where he became part of the city’s avant-garde alongside Pablo Picasso, Alexander Calder, Salvador Dali, Joan Miro, Wassily Kandinsky, Marcel Duchamp, and Man Ray. In the 1920s and 1930s, Giacometti explored Cubism and Surrealism, creating symbolic and dreamlike sculptures such as Suspended Ball (1930–31) and The Palace at 4 A.M. (1932), which reflected the influence of Dali, Duchamp, and Man Ray. By the 1940s, he abandoned Surrealism to pursue a deeply personal exploration of the human condition, developing his iconic attenuated figures that embodied both fragility and resilience. His signature sculptures—L’Homme qui marche I (Walking Man I), Femme debout, and Le Chariot—expressed the isolation, endurance, and vulnerability of modern existence, echoing the existential philosophy of Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir. Giacometti’s figures, stripped of mass yet monumental in spirit, symbolized humanity’s search for meaning in a postwar world, while his paintings and drawings—portraits of his brother Diego, his wife Annette, and his friends—captured the psychological depth of perception with trembling, repetitive lines that blurred the boundary between body and soul. His friendships with Picasso, Calder, Miro, and Kandinsky shaped his understanding of form, motion, and space, while his philosophical engagement with Duchamp and Man Ray deepened his inquiry into the nature of reality and perception. Working obsessively in his modest Montparnasse studio, Giacometti pursued art as an existential act—destroying and rebuilding his figures in an endless search for truth. His influence on postwar art was immense, shaping the work of Henry Moore, Francis Bacon, Louise Bourgeois, Lucian Freud, and later contemporary sculptors such as Antony Gormley and Anselm Kiefer. His aesthetic also resonated beyond sculpture, influencing fashion, photography, and architecture through his vision of form, isolation, and proportion. Giacometti’s work is represented in major museum collections including MoMA, the Tate Modern, and the Centre Pompidou, and continues to inspire artists, collectors, and thinkers worldwide. Standing alongside Pablo Picasso, Alexander Calder, Salvador Dali, Joan Miro, Wassily Kandinsky, Marcel Duchamp, and Man Ray, Giacometti remains a towering figure in modern art—a sculptor-philosopher who transformed the human form into a universal symbol of resilience and reflection. His highest auction record was achieved by L’Homme qui marche I (Walking Man I), which sold for 141.3 million USD at Sotheby’s, London, on February 3, 2010, reaffirming Alberto Giacometti’s enduring legacy as one of the most visionary, profound, and collectible artists in the history of modern art. After Alberto Giacometti Annette...

This exquisite lithograph after Henri Matisse (1869–1954), titled Auguste Pellerin, from the album Portraits par Henri Matisse (Portraits by Henri Matisse), originates from the 1954 ...

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

This exquisite collotype after Alfonso Ossorio (1916–1990), titled Peinture initiatique VIII (Initiatory Painting VIII), from the album Peintures initiatiques d'Alfonso Ossorio (Init...

This exquisite heliogravure after Henri Matisse (1869–1954), titled Etude pour Les Plumes Blanches (Study for The White Feathers), from the album Portraits par Henri Matisse (Portrai...

Lithograph on vélin paper. Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition; with centerfold, as issued. Notes: From Derrière le miroir, N° 48-49, 1952. Published by A...

ZAO WOU-KI 1921- 2013 Beijing 1921 -2013 Switzerland (Chinese) Title: Etching No. 118, 1959 Technique: Original Hand Signed, Numbered and Dated Etching and Aquatint in Colours on W...

This exquisite heliogravure after Henri Matisse (1869–1954), titled Edgar Allan Poe (Edgar Allan Poe), from the album Portraits par Henri Matisse (Portraits by Henri Matisse), origin...

This exquisite collotype after Pablo Picasso (1881–1973), titled Anes (Donkeys), originates from the rare 1957 folio 40 dessins de Picasso en marge du Buffon (Forty Drawings by Picas...

Fernand Léger, French (1881 -1955) - Sculptures Polychromes at Galerie Louis Carres, Year: 1953, Medium: Lithograph Poster, Size: 25.25 x 18.75 in. (64.14 x 47.63 cm), Printer: C...

This exquisite collotype after Pablo Picasso (1881–1973), from the portfolio Picasso, Carnet de la Californie, originates from the rare 1959 folio published by Editions Cercle d'Art,...

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...

This exquisite lithograph by Wifredo Lam (1902–1982), titled Figure Ailee (Winged Figure), from the folio Derriere le miroir, No. 55-56, originates from the 1953 edition published by...

Serge POLIAKOFF Abstract Composition, 1956 Lithograph and stencil (Jacomet Workshop) Printed signature in the plate On wove paper 31.5 x 24 cm (c. 12.2 x 9.4 in) Edition San Lazarr...

This exquisite collotype after Pablo Picasso (1881–1973), titled Visage féminin, de face (Female Face, Frontal View), originates from the rare 1957 folio 40 dessins de Picasso en mar...

This exquisite lithograph after Maurice de Vlaminck (1876–1958), titled La Maladrerie sous la neige (The Maladrerie in the Snow), from the album Vlaminck, originates from the 1958 ed...

Lithograph, 1959 Handsigned by the artist in pencil Edition : 700 ex. Publisher : The New York Graphik Society (Greenwich CT) Printer : I. G. Seix y Barral Hermanos, S.A. (Barcelone) Catalog : [Cramer 56] 34.00 cm. x 71.50 cm. 13.39 in. x 28.15 in. (paper) 34.00 cm. x 71.50 cm. 13.39 in. x 28.15 in. (image) From “Joan Miró Drawings...

This exquisite lithograph after Henri Matisse (1869–1954), titled Mlle X (Miss X), from the album Portraits par Henri Matisse (Portraits by Henri Matisse), originates from the 1954 e...

This exquisite lithograph and pochoir by Mark Tobey (1890–1976), titled Totem, from the album XXe siecle, Nouvelle serie, XXIe Annee, No. 12, Mai-Juin 1959, originates from the 1959 ...

This exquisite lithograph after Maurice de Vlaminck (1876–1958), titled La moisson (The Harvest), from the album Vlaminck, originates from the 1958 edition published by Andre Sauret,...

This exquisite heliogravure after Henri Matisse (1869–1954), titled Madame Josette Gris (Mrs. Josette Gris), from the album Portraits par Henri Matisse (Portraits by Henri Matisse), ...

This exquisite lithograph after Henri Matisse (1869–1954), titled Nini Betron, from the album Portraits par Henri Matisse (Portraits by Henri Matisse), originates from the 1954 editi...

This exquisite lithograph after Henri Matisse (1869–1954), titled Les deux Soeurs (The Two Sisters), from the album Portraits par Henri Matisse (Portraits by Henri Matisse), originat...

This exquisite collotype after Pablo Picasso (1881–1973), titled Visage d'homme riant (Laughing Man’s Face), originates from the rare 1957 folio 40 dessins de Picasso en marge du Buf...

Lithograph, stencil on vélin paper. Paper Size: 12.4 x 9.65 inches. Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Notes: From the album, XXe siècle, Nouvelle série N° 8 (double) J...

Lithograph on vélin paper. Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition, with centerfold, as issued. Notes: From Derrière le miroir, N° 107-108-109, 1958. Publishe...

This exquisite heliogravure after Henri Matisse (1869–1954), titled Paul Matisse (Paul Matisse), from the album Portraits par Henri Matisse (Portraits by Henri Matisse), originates f...

LEONARD EDMONDSON (1906 – 2001) WINTER GARDEN, 1957 Color intaglio, Edition 50. signed, titled and no. in pencil. Image 11 x 8 ¾”, sheet 15 ¾ x 12 3/8”....

This exquisite collotype after Pablo Picasso (1881–1973), titled Dedicace (Dedication), originates from the rare 1957 folio 40 dessins de Picasso en marge du Buffon (Forty Drawings b...

After moving to Paris in 1946, Pierre Soulages began using walnut stain to make gestural abstract paintings on paper and, by the 1950s, had begun using oil on canvas. Along with Hans...

Woodcut on vélin d’Arches paper. Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: From the folio, Jean Arp, Dreams and Projects, 1951-1952. Published by Curt V...

This exquisite lithograph after Henri Matisse (1869–1954), titled Tete blanche et rose (White and Pink Head), from the album Portraits par Henri Matisse (Portraits by Henri Matisse),...

Max ERNST Electra Stone Lithograph Printed signature in the plate On cream vellum 31 x 24 cm (c. 12.5 x 10 inch) Excellent condition

This exquisite lithograph after Maurice de Vlaminck (1876–1958), titled Allainville sous la neige (Allainville in the Snow), from the album Vlaminck, originates from the 1958 edition...

Hans Hartung Composition with Lines, 1959 Original lithograph (Mourlot workshop) Printed signature in the plate On wove paper 31 x 24 cm (c. 12 x 10 in) Excellent condition

This exquisite heliogravure after Henri Matisse (1869–1954), titled Charles Baudelaire, from the album Portraits par Henri Matisse (Portraits by Henri Matisse), originates from the 1...

This exquisite collotype after Pablo Picasso (1881–1973), titled L'aigle (The Eagle), originates from the rare 1957 folio 40 dessins de Picasso en marge du Buffon (Forty Drawings by Picasso in the Margin of Buffon). Published by Berggruen et Cie, Paris, under the direction of Henri Jonquieres, and printed by l'atelier de Georges Duval, Paris, this edition presents forty unpublished compositions created by Picasso as marginal drawings inspired by the writings of Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon. In L'aigle (The Eagle), Picasso captures the commanding grace and power of the bird of prey through bold, linear simplicity. The composition exemplifies his ability to evoke vitality and character through minimal means, uniting natural observation with poetic abstraction. Executed on velin du Marais paper, this collotype measures 14.5 x 11.125 inches (36.83 x 28.26 cm). As issued, it is unsigned and unnumbered, consistent with the authorized 1957 publication format. This edition, printed in January 1957, captures the immediacy and vitality of Picasso’s Buffon...

This exquisite lithograph by Maurice de Vlaminck (1876–1958), titled Les Challonges (The Challonges), from the album Vlaminck, originates from the 1958 edition published by Andre Sau...

This exquisite lithograph after Maurice de Vlaminck (1876–1958), titled Les tilleuls sous la neige (Linden Trees in the Snow), from the album Vlaminck, originates from the 1958 editi...

This exquisite lithograph after Maurice de Vlaminck (1876–1958), titled Près de Beaumont sur Sarthe (Near Beaumont on Sarthe), from the album Vlaminck, originates from the 1958 editi...

This exquisite lithograph after Maurice de Vlaminck (1876–1958), titled Les Coteaux de Chatou (The Hills of Chatou), from the album Vlaminck, originates from the 1958 edition publish...

This exquisite lithograph after Henri Matisse (1869–1954), titled Le Jeune Matelot (The Young Sailor), from the album Portraits par Henri Matisse (Portraits by Henri Matisse), origin...

This exquisite lithograph after Pablo Picasso (1881–1973), titled Clown et femme nue (Clown and Nude Woman), from Verve, Revue Artistique et Litteraire, La Comedie Humaine (The Human Comedy), Vol. VIII, No. 29–30, originates from the 1954 issue published by Editions de la revue Verve, Paris, under the direction of Teriade, Editeur, Paris, and printed by Mourlot Freres, Paris, 1954. This expressive and evocative composition captures Picasso’s enduring fascination with the circus and the human condition, recurring themes throughout his long career. Clown et femme nue reflects the artist’s profound empathy for the performers of his imagination—figures of strength, fragility, and grace that embody the drama and poetry of life itself. Executed during his Vallauris period, this work radiates vitality and emotional tension, merging his signature economy of line with masterful balance and movement. Executed as a lithograph on velin du Marais paper, this work measures 10.5 x 14 inches. Unsigned and unnumbered as issued. The edition exemplifies the superb craftsmanship of the Mourlot Freres atelier, renowned for its collaborations with Picasso and other leading modernists of the 20th century. Artwork Details: Artist: After Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) Title: Clown et femme nue (Clown and Nude Woman), from Verve, Revue Artistique et Litteraire, La Comedie Humaine (The Human Comedy), Vol. VIII, No. 29–30, 1954 Medium: Lithograph on velin du Marais paper Dimensions: 10.5 x 14 inches Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered as issued Date: 1954 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, La Comedie Humaine (The Human Comedy), Vol. VIII, No. 29–30, published by Editions de la revue Verve, Paris, 1954 Notes: Excerpted from the album (translated from French), This double issue of Verve, dedicated to Picasso, whose cover was specially composed by the artist, was completed to print on September 15, 1954 by the maitres imprimeurs, Drager freres for the heliogravures, and Mourlot freres for the color lithographs. Excerpted from the publisher (translated from French), Last winter, from mid-December to the end of January 1954, Picasso was working indefatigably on this series of drawings, which rank among the finest, boldest, most poignantly human of all he has produced in the course of his long and brilliant career... Almost one could fancy that in his lonely nights at Vallauris these denizens of a world invented by himself crowded into the artist's room, sat for him, confessed unblushingly their most shameful secrets... We have published the series of drawings in its entirety. They form an organic whole, born of a surging uprush of the creative spirit, and to have omitted any of its elements would have been a mutilation. Nevertheless, when we isolate any one of these elements and fix our attention on a single page, we find the fragment almost as eye-filling as the ensemble. All the drawings are printed in the exact size of the originals and in the chronological order of their making. About the Publication: La Comedie Humaine (The Human Comedy), Vol. VIII, No. 29–30 (1954), stands as one of the most significant Verve issues dedicated entirely to Pablo Picasso’s prolific creativity during his Vallauris years. Conceived and directed by Teriade, this double volume presents an extraordinary series of Picasso’s drawings executed between December 1953 and January 1954, printed in their full sequence and original scale. The collection represents a deeply human and poetic vision—an unfiltered exploration of comedy, tragedy, and the theatre of life. Printed by the master atelier Mourlot Freres for the color lithographs, this issue exemplifies Verve’s tradition of pairing literary sophistication with visual innovation. It stands as a testament to Picasso’s restless genius and Teriade’s enduring commitment to producing artistically and historically important publications that bridge art, literature, and modern printing craftsmanship. About the Artist: Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) was a Spanish painter, sculptor, printmaker, and ceramicist whose extraordinary vision revolutionized modern art and defined the visual language of the 20th century. A child prodigy from Malaga, Spain, Picasso’s career spanned more than seven decades and encompassed an astonishing range of styles and innovations—from the melancholic Blue and romantic Rose periods to his pioneering invention of Cubism with Georges Braque, which shattered conventional notions of perspective and form. Influenced by the bold expressiveness of El Greco, the structure of Cezanne, and the vitality of African and Iberian sculpture, Picasso became a central figure of the Paris avant-garde, working in creative dialogue with contemporaries such as Henri Matisse, Alexander Calder, Alberto Giacometti, Salvador Dali, Joan Miro, Wassily Kandinsky, Marcel Duchamp, and Man Ray. His insatiable experimentation extended across painting, drawing, printmaking, ceramics, and sculpture, forever expanding the boundaries of artistic expression. A master of reinvention, Picasso profoundly shaped generations of artists who followed—from Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, David Hockney, and Jean-Michel Basquiat to Jeff Koons and Banksy—cementing his status as a timeless cultural icon whose works remain among the most sought after worldwide. His landmark painting Les Femmes d’Alger (Version “O”) achieved a record-breaking sale of $179,365,000 at Christie’s, New York, on May 11, 2015, affirming Picasso’s enduring legacy as one of the most influential and valuable artists in history. After Pablo Picasso Clown...

This exquisite lithograph after Henri Matisse (1869–1954), titled Georges Besson, from the album Portraits par Henri Matisse (Portraits by Henri Matisse), originates from the 1954 ed...

This exquisite collotype after Pablo Picasso (1881–1973), titled Cranes et squelettes d'oiseaux (Skulls and Bird Skeletons), originates from the rare 1957 folio 40 dessins de Picasso...

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

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

This exquisite heliogravure after Henri Matisse (1869–1954), titled La Famille du Peintre (The Painter’s Family), from the album Portraits par Henri Matisse (Portraits by Henri Matis...