Georges BraqueOiseaux Blancs – White Birds. 1958. Birds in Autumn. 1958.
- Lithograph in colours
- 56 x 41 cms (22.05 x 16.14 ins)
- Ref: 677079/19746
Original
lithograph in colours. 1958. Signed in pencil. Numbered from the edition of 75.
(There were also a small number of artist’s proofs annotated as H.C. – Hors
Commerce Not for sale.) Drawn and printed at the Atelier Mourlot. Edition
issued by Galerie Maeght, 1958.
Reference: Vallier – Braque
L’Oeuvre Gravé no 119.
Beautiful
impression. On pale cream wove Arches paper. Pristine condition – never
previously mounted or framed. Full margins. Sheet: 67.5 x 48 cm. Image: 56 x 41
cm. 22 x 16 1/8 ins.
Worked
with differing widths of brush stroke using dove grey over an early autumnal
golden brown in the sky and a golden brown outlines for the soaring birds this
composition is a truly painterly example of the freedom and creativity which
Braque introduced into his lithographs in the in the 1950’s and 60’s.
Braque
wrote about how much he enjoyed working in the medium of lithography. It
allowed him to exploit the very special qualities of the medium to enhance his
imagery. The unique inherent transparency of the inks allowed colours worked
over the top of each other to retain their individual tonality, instead of
blending as they would have done in paint. At the same time it also permitted a
freedom of handling which is wonderfully demonstrated here in the sweeping
contrasted strokes.