By Joan Miró
Located in Southampton, NY
This exquisite lithograph by Joan Miro (1893–1983), titled Lithograph II, from the album Joan Miro Lithographs, Volume III 1964–1969, originates from the 1977 edition published by Maeght Editeur, Paris, and printed by Mourlot Freres, Paris, April 15, 1977. Lithograph II 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 II, from the album Joan Miro Lithographs, Volume III 1964–1969, 1977
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: 1977
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 230. Miro, Joan, and Patrick Cramer: Volume VI 1976–1981. Maeght, 1992, illustration 1114.
Condition: Well preserved, consistent with age and medium
Provenance: From the album Joan Miro Lithographs, Volume III 1964–1969, published by Maeght Editeur, Paris; printed by Mourlot Freres, Paris, April 15, 1977
Notes:
Excerpted from the album, Final printing in Paris on 15th April 1977 at Arte Adrien Maeght press. The wide margin lithographs as well as the supplementary lithographs were printed by the Mourlot press. V̅ examples of this English language edition, numbered I-V̅, have been printed. A deluxe edition of CL examples, numbered 1-CL, with II 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 III 1964–1969, published in 1977 by Maeght Editeur, Paris, represents the third installment in the definitive four-volume series documenting Miros original lithographic oeuvre. Printed by Mourlot Freres and completed on April 15, 1977, the album chronicles a pivotal decade in Miros artistic evolution—one marked by the synthesis of lyrical abstraction, calligraphic gesture, and radiant color that defined his mature style. The volume includes eight original lithographs, each printed under Miros supervision, demonstrating the technical excellence and chromatic brilliance characteristic of his late work. With essays, documentation, and scholarly commentary, the album stands as both a visual and historical testament to the collaboration between Miro, Maeght Editeur, and Mourlot Freres, whose joint contributions elevated fine art lithography to an unparalleled standard of creativity and craftsmanship. As part of the celebrated Maeght archive of artist albums, Volume III captures the enduring vitality of Miros vision and the timeless spirit of his contribution to modern art.
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.
Joan Miro Lithograph II...
Category
1970s Surrealist Art
