Georges Braque 1957 Artist's Proof Lithograph on Japon Nacré "Tête grecque"

Item Details

Georges Braque (France; 1882 – 1963)
Tête grecque, 1957
Color lithograph on Japon nacré
Signed by hand, signed in plate
Marked as épreuve d’artiste (artist’s proof)
Published by Editions Jean-Paul Loriot, Paris

A 1957 artist’s proof color lithograph on Japon nacré paper by very well-listed French Modernist and Cubist Georges Braque (1882 – 1963), titled Tête grecque and published by Editions Jean-Paul Loriot, Paris. The print depicts a stylized Grecian head printed against a star-like abstract form in thoughtful shades of muted blue and brown. The print is signed in-plate to the lower right and is signed and labeled ‘E.A.’ (for ‘épreuve d’artiste’ or ’artist’s proof’) in graphite to the lower corners. It is float-mounted to a white backing and matted in white linen with a gold tone liner. It is presented behind glass in a gold tone frame with a hanging wire to the verso.

Literature:
Dora Vallier, Braque: The Complete Graphics, page 298

Brauqe began his artistic career painting in a Fauvist style, strongly influenced by friends Raoul Dufy and Henri Matisse. In 1907, however, after befriending Pablo Picasso, Braque began focusing on Cubist compositions and a more muted color palette. He and Picasso would work closely until 1914, when Picasso began focusing on symbolism and portraiture, while Braque sought to explore ‘pure composition’ void of meaning and symbolism. A 1922 exhibition at the Salon d’Automne in Paris launched Braque further into a fame. He won several important prizes over the next few decades, including First Prize at the Carnegie International and the main prize for painting at the Venice Biennale. In 1961, Braque became the first living artist to ever have his work displayed at The Louvre. Throughout the 1930s and 40s, Braque created many works featuring Greek and Roman mythological imagery such as this print, though his hope was to use the images simply as visual objects stripped of their histories, lore, and symbolism.

Condition

- minor foxing fluoresces under black light throughout print and liner. Minor wear throughout print.

Dimensions

- sheet measures 13″ × 20″. Image measures 16 × 13.5 cm.

Item #

18CIN517-005