Large Cave Paintings VII | Gran Rupestres VII
MIRÓ, Joan (1893-1983)

JOAN MIRÓ 1893-1983
Montroig 1893-1983 Mallorca (Spanish)

Title: Large Cave Paintings VII | Gran Rupestres VII, 1979

Technique: Original Hand Signed and Numbered Etching with Aquatint in Colours on Guarro Wove Paper

Paper size: 92 x 69.5 cm. / 36.2 x 27.4 in.

Additional Information: This original etching and aquatint in colours is hand signed in white pencil by the artist “Miró” at the lower right image.
It is also hand numbered in Roman numerals and inscribed, at the lower left image. Our impression is one of 15 hors commerce [out of trade] impressions aside from the standard edition of 30.
It was printed by Joan Barbarà, Barcelona, and published by Maeght, Barcelona
This is the seventh plate of seven for the series Gran Rupestres.
The paper bears the Guarro watermark in the upper right corner.

Note:
Miró contacted Joan Barbarà, whom he had met earlier in Crommelynck’s and Dutrou’s studio in Paris. Before beginning the Gaudí series, Miró thought it advisable to have a test run and adapt himself to Barbarà’s way of working. They both worked very freely, allowing for much experimentation. Out of this came several series, each with a clear character of its own, and all masterfully executed. Unlike most of Miró’s production, for which he usually chose titles in French, the titles for these series were in Catalan.
Els Rupestres (1977) and Grans Rupestres (1977) are two print series that recreate the primitive, vivid atmosphere of prehistoric mural paintings.
Miró had visited the Altamira caves with ceramist Artigas when he was searching for ideas to develop in the murals commissioned for the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, which he completed in 1958. Almost twenty years later, he once again drew on the gestural and synthetic qualities of cave painting with even greater synchrony than before.

Literature: Dupin, J. (2001). Miró Engraver, Vol. IV 1976-1983. Paris: Éditeur Daniel Lelong.
Reference: Dupin 1059

Condition: Excellent condition.