This exquisite lithograph and pochoir after Georges Braque (1882–1963), titled Le canard (The Duck), from the album Georges Braque, Le Solitaire (The Solitary), originates from the 1959 edition published by XXe siecle, Paris, in collaboration with Fernand Hazan, Paris; rendered by Daniel Jacomet, Paris; and printed by Daniel Jacomet et Cie, Paris, 1959. Le canard (The Duck) reflects Braque’s poetic exploration of nature through the visual language of Cubism. In this composition, the familiar form of a duck becomes an interplay of shapes, tones, and rhythms—an image transformed into pure harmony between structure and light. Through the subtle layering of color and abstraction, Braque captures both the essence and spirit of natural life, inviting the viewer to experience form as a meditation on balance and perception.
Executed as a lithograph and pochoir on velin d’Arches paper, this work measures 7.25 x 9.375 inches. Unsigned and unnumbered as issued. The edition exemplifies the technical excellence of Daniel Jacomet et Cie, Paris, produced in close collaboration with XXe siecle and Fernand Hazan, Paris.
Artwork Details:
Artist: After Georges Braque (1882–1963)
Title: Le canard (The Duck), from the album Georges Braque, Le Solitaire (The Solitary), 1959
Medium: Lithograph and pochoir on velin d’Arches paper
Dimensions: 7.25 x 9.375 inches (18.42 x 23.81 cm)
Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered as issued
Date: 1959
Publisher: XXe siecle, Paris, in collaboration with Fernand Hazan, Paris
Printer: Daniel Jacomet et Cie, Paris
Condition: Well preserved, consistent with age and medium
Provenance: From the album Georges Braque, Le Solitaire, published by XXe siecle, Paris, in collaboration with Fernand Hazan, Paris; rendered by Daniel Jacomet, Paris; and printed by Daniel Jacomet et Cie, Paris, 1959
Notes:
Excerpted from the album (translated from French): XXX examples of this work were printed on Arches paper, containing an original engraving by Georges Braque, numbered from I to XXX. CM examples, constituting the original edition, including CCC for F. Hazan, publisher in Paris, CCC for A. Zwemmer, publisher in London, and CCC for the New York Graphic Society, LX examples, marked H.C., are reserved for the Author and the Publisher.
About the Publication:
Georges Braque, Le Solitaire (The Solitary) was published in Paris in 1959 by XXe siecle in collaboration with Fernand Hazan and printed by the Atelier Daniel Jacomet et Cie. Conceived as both a visual and literary homage to one of the founding figures of Cubism, the volume represents one of the most refined art book productions of the postwar era. The publication was issued in conjunction with the journal XXe siecle, under the direction of G. di San Lazzaro, a central figure in promoting modern art through his collaborations with artists such as Picasso, Miro, Chagall, and Calder. Le Solitaire brought together Braque’s mature reflections on nature, still life, and metaphysical quietude, accompanied by critical essays and reproductions of his work. The pochoir and lithographic plates—executed by Daniel Jacomet, whose atelier was renowned for its exceptional color pochoirs—capture the texture and tonal depth of Braque’s original paintings with rare precision.
About the Artist:
Georges Braque (1882–1963) was a French painter, sculptor, and printmaker whose pioneering vision transformed the course of 20th-century art. A central figure in modernism and the co-founder of Cubism alongside Pablo Picasso, Braque redefined visual perception by breaking objects into geometric forms and reassembling them from multiple perspectives, creating a new visual language that bridged the gap between abstraction and reality. His early work was influenced by the vibrant colors and expressive energy of the Fauvist painters Henri Matisse and Andre Derain, before evolving toward the more analytical and structured compositions inspired by Paul Cezanne’s theories of form and perspective. Braque’s collaboration with Picasso between 1908 and 1914 marked one of the most fertile and revolutionary periods in art history, resulting in works that challenged traditional notions of space, depth, and illusion. Throughout his career, Braque maintained a deep interest in harmony, rhythm, and balance, infusing his still lifes, landscapes, and later reliefs with poetic subtlety and intellectual rigor. He moved among a brilliant circle of contemporaries including Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Marc Chagall, Juan Gris, Fernand Leger, and Amedeo Modigliani—artists united in their pursuit of new modes of artistic expression. Braque’s influence extended well beyond his own era, shaping the creative approaches of later modernists such as Alexander Calder, Alberto Giacometti, Salvador Dali, Joan Miro, Wassily Kandinsky, Marcel Duchamp, and Man Ray, all of whom drew inspiration from his structural innovations and aesthetic integrity. His works are held in major museum collections worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Centre Pompidou, the Tate, and the Guggenheim, where they continue to embody the essence of modern artistic thought and visual poetry. The highest price ever paid for a Georges Braque artwork is approximately 15 million USD, achieved in 2013 at Christie’s New York for Paysage a la Ciotat (1907).
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