By Wassily Kandinsky
Located in Southampton, NY
This exquisite lithograph after Wassily Kandinsky (1866–1944), titled Sans Titre (Untitled), originates from the 1953 folio Derriere le Miroir, Nos. 60–61, published by Maeght Editeur, Paris, under the direction of Aime Maeght, and printed by Mourlot Freres, Paris. This plate pays homage to the artist’s groundbreaking geometric abstraction and his profound influence on postwar modernism. Through precise form and rhythmic structure, Sans Titre captures the musicality and spiritual dynamism that defined Kandinsky’s mature visual language, balancing intuitive movement with mathematical harmony.
Executed on velin paper, this lithograph measures 15 x 11 inches (38.1 x 27.9 cm), as issued. Signed in the plate and unnumbered, as issued. The edition reflects the exceptional quality and craftsmanship of the Maeght and Mourlot collaborations, honoring Kandinsky’s legacy in fine art printing.
Artwork Details:
Artist: After Wassily Kandinsky (1866–1944)
Title: Sans Titre (Untitled), from Derriere le Miroir, Nos. 60–61, 1953
Medium: Lithograph on velin paper
Dimensions: 15 x 11 inches (38.1 x 27.9 cm), as issued
Inscription: Signed in the plate and unnumbered, as issued
Date: 1953
Publisher: Maeght Editeur, Paris
Printer: Mourlot Freres, Paris
Condition: Well preserved, consistent with age and medium
Provenance: From the 1953 folio Derriere le Miroir, Nos. 60–61, published by Maeght Editeur, Paris
About the Publication:
Derriere le Miroir (translated as "Behind the Mirror") was an iconic French art periodical published from 1946 to 1982 by Maeght Editeur, one of the most influential art publishers of the 20th century. Founded by Aime Maeght in Paris, the publication was conceived as a visual and literary collaboration between leading modern artists, poets, and critics. Each issue functioned as both an exhibition catalogue and a work of art in itself—featuring original lithographs printed directly from the artists' stones or plates, alongside essays, poems, and critical commentary. Over the course of 36 years, Derriere le Miroir produced more than 250 issues and showcased an extraordinary roster of artists including Henri Matisse, Marc Chagall, Joan Miro, Georges Braque, Alexander Calder, Fernand Leger, Pierre Bonnard, Alberto Giacometti, Eduardo Chillida, Ellsworth Kelly, Francis Bacon, Paul Rebeyrolle, Claude Garache, Antoni Tapies, Bram van Velde, Pierre Alechinsky, Pol Bury, Shusaku Arakawa, and Gerard Titus-Carmel. Printed in the ateliers of Mourlot, Arte, and Imprimerie Moderne du Lion, the periodical set new standards for quality in color lithography, combining fine art printing with elegant typography and poetic text. Beyond its visual brilliance, Derriere le Miroir also became a cultural chronicle of postwar European modernism. Each issue coincided with exhibitions held at Galerie Maeght, providing a collectible and widely accessible record of groundbreaking shows. Its integration of image, text, and philosophy created a dialogue between art and literature that elevated the modern art book to new aesthetic heights. Today, Derriere le Miroir remains one of the most sought-after and historically significant art publications, prized by collectors and scholars alike for its craftsmanship, influence, and its role in defining the visual language of 20th-century modernism. The Maeght Foundation in Saint-Paul-de-Vence continues to honor this legacy through exhibitions and archival preservation of the series, affirming Derriere le Miroir's enduring place in the history of modern art and fine art publishing.
About the Artist:
Wassily Kandinsky (1866–1944) was a Russian-born painter, theorist, and pioneer of abstract art whose revolutionary vision transformed 20th-century modernism. Regarded as one of the first artists to create purely nonobjective paintings, Kandinsky sought to express inner emotion and spirituality through color, rhythm, and form, believing that art could evoke the same universal harmony as music. His groundbreaking theories on abstraction and the “spiritual in art” shaped the foundation of modern aesthetics and influenced generations of artists worldwide. Closely associated with the Bauhaus movement, he developed a dynamic visual language that combined geometry and lyricism, bridging intuition and intellect. Kandinsky’s legacy resonates alongside the innovations of Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Alexander Calder, Georges Braque, Marc Chagall, Alberto Giacometti, Salvador Dali, Joan Miro, Marcel Duchamp, and Man Ray—artists who, like him, redefined the possibilities of modern art. His works are represented in the world’s leading museums, including MoMA, the Guggenheim, the Centre Pompidou, and the Tate, and remain among the most coveted by collectors globally. The highest price ever paid for a Wassily Kandinsky artwork is approximately $45.6 million USD, achieved in 2017 at Christie’s London for Bild mit weissen Linien (Painting with White Lines) (1913).
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Category
1950s Modern Art
