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Jean Lurçat
Jean Lurcat, The Libra, from The Signs of the Zodiac, 1959

1959

$716
$1,09534% Off
£556.50
£851.0734% Off
€634.54
€970.4234% Off
CA$1,027.28
CA$1,571.0434% Off
A$1,118.22
A$1,710.1234% Off
CHF 591.15
CHF 904.0734% Off
MX$13,520.58
MX$20,677.4234% Off
NOK 7,410.71
NOK 11,333.4134% Off
SEK 6,936.41
SEK 10,608.0634% Off
DKK 4,737.18
DKK 7,244.7134% Off

About the Item

This exquisite lithograph and pochoir by Jean Lurcat (1892–1966), titled La Balance (The Libra), from the folio Les Signes du Zodiaque (The Signs of the Zodiac), originates from the 1959 edition published by Editions d’art du Lion, Paris, and rendered and printed by l’atelier Daniel Jacomet, Paris, November 20, 1959. La Balance reflects Lurcat’s mastery of symbolic design and color harmony, embodying his visionary synthesis of mythology, geometry, and spiritual allegory through modernist abstraction. Executed as a lithograph and pochoir on velin d’Arches paper, this work measures 13 x 18 inches. Signed in the plate and unnumbered as issued. The edition exemplifies the refined craftsmanship of l’atelier Daniel Jacomet, Paris. Artwork Details: Artist: Jean Lurcat (1892–1966) Title: La Balance (The Libra), from the folio Les Signes du Zodiaque (The Signs of the Zodiac) Medium: Lithograph and pochoir on velin d’Arches paper Dimensions: 13 x 18 inches (33.02 x 45.72 cm) Inscription: Signed in the plate and unnumbered as issued Date: 1959 Publisher: Editions d’art du Lion, Paris Printer: l’atelier Daniel Jacomet, Paris Condition: Well preserved, consistent with age and medium Provenance: From the folio Les Signes du Zodiaque (The Signs of the Zodiac), published by Editions d’art du Lion, Paris; rendered and printed by l’atelier Daniel Jacomet, Paris, November 20, 1959 Notes: Excerpted from the folio (translated from French), Finished printing, Friday, November 20, 1959 on the presses of the Union Printing in Paris for typography; and, in Daniel Jacomet's workshops for the illustrations. The original edition of this album, printed on Arches paper, has been limited to CL examples, all including a lithography composed on this occasion by Jean Lurcat and signed by him. CXXXV examples are numbered from I to CXXXV; XII copies, including in addition an artist's gouache, are numbered from A to I; finally III examples, on which the author of the Signs of the Zodiac has kindly reported some of his graphic research, are numbered I, II and III. About the Publication: Les Signes du Zodiaque (The Signs of the Zodiac) was a fine art album published in Paris by Editions d’art du Lion in 1959, featuring a series of lithographs inspired by the twelve astrological signs. Conceived as a meditation on cosmic order and symbolic expression, the publication united some of the foremost artists and craftspeople of mid-century France. The project exemplified the refined tradition of the livre d’artiste, or artist’s book, in which text and image were created in harmony through the collaboration of painters, poets, and master printers. Printed by the renowned atelier of Daniel Jacomet, the edition reflected the Parisian commitment to preserving artisanal excellence in lithography, pochoir, and color reproduction during the postwar period. Each example was produced with meticulous care on fine Arches paper, combining modernist aesthetics with a sense of timeless allegory that characterized the golden age of French art publishing. About the Artist: Jean Lurcat (1892–1966) was a pioneering French painter, ceramicist, and tapestry master who transformed the ancient art of tapestry into a modern, intellectual, and spiritual medium, establishing himself as one of the most original and influential artists of the 20th century. Born in Bruyeres, France, Lurcat studied in Nancy and Paris, where he became part of the avant-garde circle that included Pablo Picasso, Alexander Calder, Alberto Giacometti, Salvador Dali, Joan Miro, Wassily Kandinsky, Marcel Duchamp, and Man Ray. His early paintings reflected the influence of Post-Impressionism, Cubism, and Symbolism, but his true innovation came when he reimagined tapestry as a form of monumental art rather than decorative craft. Profoundly inspired by the medieval Apocalypse of Angers tapestry, he sought to revive the grandeur of weaving by fusing ancient techniques with modernist abstraction and symbolism. In the 1930s, working with the Aubusson and Gobelins workshops, Lurcat revolutionized the process of tapestry-making by introducing a precise color notation system and standardizing thread palettes, allowing artists to maintain creative control from conception to completion. His bold compositions—radiant with color, geometric rhythm, and allegorical imagery—embodied a philosophy of cosmic balance and human resilience. After World War II, Lurcat’s work deepened in moral and spiritual scope, culminating in his monumental cycle Le Chant du Monde (“The Song of the World,” 1957–1965), a humanist response to the destruction of war and one of the greatest artistic achievements of the postwar era. His art, characterized by suns, moons, mythic creatures, and symbolic geometry, reflected his belief that art should harmonize intellect, craft, and emotion while reconnecting humanity to the natural and divine order. A contemporary and peer of Pablo Picasso, Alexander Calder, Alberto Giacometti, Salvador Dali, Joan Miro, Wassily Kandinsky, Marcel Duchamp, and Man Ray, Lurcat shared their passion for abstraction and innovation while extending it into the tactile, enduring world of textile art. His influence resonated with later artists and designers such as Fernand Leger, Sonia Delaunay, Le Corbusier, and Victor Vasarely, whose integration of color and geometry echoed his ideas. His work is preserved in major collections including the Musee Jean Lurcat et de la Tapisserie Contemporaine in Angers, the Musee d’Art Moderne de Paris, and the Centre Pompidou. The highest auction record for Jean Lurcat was achieved by Apocalypse Tapestry, which sold for $290,500 USD at Sotheby’s, Paris, on May 29, 2014, underscoring his enduring legacy as the visionary who redefined tapestry as a cornerstone of modern art. Jean Lurcat La Balance 1959, Lurcat The Libra, Lurcat Les Signes du Zodiaque, Lurcat Jacomet lithograph, Lurcat Editions d’art du Lion, Lurcat velin d’Arches paper, Lurcat collectible print.
  • Creator:
    Jean Lurçat (1892 - 1966, French)
  • Creation Year:
    1959
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 13 in (33.02 cm)Width: 18 in (45.72 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Southampton, NY
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU1465214344672

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