Georges Braque

Georges Braque, Bird on Background of X, from XXe Siecle, 1958

1958

This exquisite lithograph after Georges Braque (1882–1963), titled Oiseau sur fond de X (Bird on Background of X), from the album San Lazzaro et ses Amis, Hommage au fondateur de la revue XXe siecle (San Lazzaro and His Friends, Tribute to the Founder of the Journal XXe Siecle), originates from the 1975 edition published by XXe siecle, Paris, and printed by Mourlot Freres, Paris, October 1975. Oiseau sur fond de X exemplifies Braque’s late-career mastery of poetic symbolism and formal harmony. The composition’s abstracted bird—one of Braque’s most enduring motifs—emerges from an intricate background of interlocking shapes and textures, expressing his lifelong fascination with balance, serenity, and the unity between nature and form. Executed as a lithograph on velin d'Arches paper, this work measures 10.5 x 14 inches (26.67 x 35.56 cm). Unsigned and unnumbered as issued. The edition reflects the exceptional craftsmanship of Mourlot Freres, the legendary Parisian atelier known for its collaborations with Braque, Picasso, Chagall, and Matisse. Artwork Details: Artist: After Georges Braque (1882–1963) Title: Oiseau sur fond de X (Bird on Background of X), from San Lazzaro et ses Amis, Hommage au fondateur de la revue XXe siecle, 1975 Medium: Lithograph on velin d'Arches paper Dimensions: 10.5 x 14 inches (26.67 x 35.56 cm) Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered as issued Date: 1975 Publisher: XXe siecle, Paris Printer: Mourlot Freres, Paris Catalogue raisonne references: Vallier, Dora, et al. Braque, the Complete Graphics: Catalogue Raisonne. Translated by Robert Bononno, Gallery Books, 1988, illustration 122. Condition: Well preserved, consistent with age and medium Provenance: From the album San Lazzaro et ses Amis, Hommage au fondateur de la revue XXe siecle, published by XXe siecle, Paris, October 1975 Notes: Excerpted from the folio (translated from French), Finished printing in Paris in October 1975. This album has been printed on velin d'Arches in DLXXV numbered examples. The LXXV original examples include a series of VIII original lithographs, signed and numbered by the artists. In addition, LV examples were printed for artists, authors, friends and collaborators of XXe siecle. The typography is from l'Imprimerie Union in Paris; the lithographs of Max Bill, Marc Chagall, Hans Hartung, Braque, Fontana, Magnelli, Picasso, Magritte and Poliakoff were printed by Fernand Mourlot in Paris; those of Alexander Calder and Joan Miro by l'imprimerie Arte in Paris; that of Max Ernst by Pierre Chave in Vence; that of Zao Wou-Ki by ateliers Bellini in Paris; and that of Henry Moore by the Curwen Studio in London. About the Publication: San Lazzaro et ses Amis, Hommage au fondateur de la revue XXe siecle (San Lazzaro and His Friends, Tribute to the Founder of the Journal XXe Siecle), published in 1975 by XXe siecle, Paris, was conceived as a landmark tribute to Gualtieri di San Lazzaro, the visionary founder of the celebrated art journal XXe Siecle. The folio unites original lithographs by leading masters of modern art—Braque, Picasso, Chagall, Miro, Calder, Hartung, Moore, and others—printed by premier Parisian ateliers including Mourlot, Arte, Bellini, and Curwen. Representing the creative spirit and internationalism of postwar modernism, this edition stands as one of the great artistic collaborations of the 20th century. About the Artist: Georges Braque (1882–1963) was a French painter, printmaker, sculptor, and collagist whose visionary innovations and lifelong pursuit of balance, structure, and poetic form made him one of the most influential figures in 20th-century art. Born in Argenteuil-sur-Seine and raised in Le Havre, Braque began as a decorative painter before studying at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts and the Academie Humbert in Paris, where he absorbed the vibrant colorism of the Fauves and the structural logic of Paul Cezanne. His encounter with Pablo Picasso in 1907 led to one of the most groundbreaking collaborations in art history—the invention of Cubism—a movement that redefined visual perception by fragmenting form, rejecting single-point perspective, and reconstructing reality into a multidimensional experience. Between 1908 and 1914, Braque and Picasso revolutionized painting through Analytical Cubism, a style characterized by muted palettes, overlapping planes, and a focus on underlying structure rather than surface appearance. In 1912, Braque pioneered papier colle, the first use of collage in fine art, incorporating wallpaper and printed paper into his compositions and forever changing the relationship between art and the material world. After World War I, he returned to painting with renewed sensitivity, developing a lyrical and introspective form of Synthetic Cubism distinguished by harmony, rhythm, and a meditative sense of stillness. His still lifes, musical instruments, and interior scenes became metaphors for balance and contemplation, uniting intellect and emotion in perfect equilibrium. Immersed in the Parisian avant-garde, Braque worked alongside and exchanged ideas with Pablo Picasso, Alexander Calder, Alberto Giacometti, Salvador Dali, Joan Miro, Wassily Kandinsky, Marcel Duchamp, and Man Ray, each of whom shared his passion for redefining the boundaries of modern art. His innovations in form, collage, and spatial construction deeply influenced later artists, including Jean Dubuffet, Nicolas de Stael, Henry Laurens, Ellsworth Kelly, Richard Diebenkorn, and Jasper Johns, shaping the course of postwar abstraction and modern design. In 1961, Braque became the first living artist to have a solo exhibition at the Louvre, a recognition of his monumental impact on modern aesthetics. His works are now housed in major museums worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Tate Modern in London, and the Centre Pompidou in Paris, and remain sought after for their intellectual depth and timeless serenity. His highest auction record was achieved by Paysage a la Ciotat, which sold for $15.8 million at Sotheby’s, New York, in 2013, reaffirming Georges Braque’s legacy as one of the founding architects of Cubism and a master whose art continues to define the modern age. Georges Braque Oiseau...

Lithograph on vélin pur Chiffon Moulin à papier Richard de Bas paper. Inscription: unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. Good condition. Notes: from the folio, Le Tir à l'arc mis en lu...

Georges Braque French painter Composition Oiseau Editions XXe Siecle, Paris, France Mint Condition 1975

Etching and aquatint, 1961 Handsigned by the artist in pencil and numbered 30/75 Publisher : Maeght (Paris) Printer : Maeght (Paris) Catalog : [Vallier 166, p.235] 75.00 cm. x 56.50 ...