This exquisite lithograph by Georges Braque (1882–1963), titled La Bouteille de Marc (The Bottle of Marc), from the album XXe Siecle, Nouvelle serie N°6 (double) Janvier 1956, originates from the 1956 edition published by Societe Internationale dArt XXe Siecle, Paris, under the direction of Gualtieri di San Lazzaro, editeur, Paris, and printed by Mourlot Freres, Paris, 1956. A poetic example of Braques mature imagery, it reflects the harmony, structure, and lyrical abstraction that define his celebrated oeuvre.
Executed as a lithograph on velin paper, this work measures 12.5 x 9.75 inches. Unsigned and unnumbered as issued. Printed by Mourlot Freres, Paris, one of the foremost ateliers of the 20th century.
Artwork Details:
Artist: Georges Braque (1882–1963)
Title: La Bouteille de Marc (The Bottle of Marc)
Medium: Lithograph on velin paper
Dimensions: 12.5 x 9.75 inches (31.75 x 24.77 cm)
Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered as issued
Date: 1956
Publisher: Societe Internationale dArt XXe Siecle, Paris, under the direction of Gualtieri di San Lazzaro, editeur, Paris
Printer: Mourlot Freres, Paris
Condition: Well preserved, consistent with age and medium
Provenance: From the album XXe Siecle, Nouvelle serie N°6 (double) Janvier 1956, published by Societe Internationale dArt XXe Siecle, Paris; printed by Mourlot Freres, Paris, 1956
About the Publication:
Gualtieri di San Lazzaros XXe Siecle (Twentieth Century) was one of the most influential art journals of the modern era, founded in Paris in 1938 to unite the greatest painters, sculptors, and writers of the 20th century. San Lazzaro, a visionary editor and champion of modernism, believed deeply in the synthesis of art and literature, creating a publication that served as both a scholarly platform and a collectors object. Across its many issues, XXe Siecle featured original lithographs, pochoirs, linocuts, and wood engravings by leading modern masters including Picasso, Matisse, Chagall, Miro, Braque, Leger, Kandinsky, and Calder, printed by premier ateliers such as Mourlot, Atelier Jacomet, and Lacouriere. The double issues of the 1950s reflect a flourishing period of postwar abstraction, sculpture, and avant garde experimentation. Today, XXe Siecle remains an essential reference point in 20th century art history, prized by collectors, museums, and scholars worldwide.
About the Artist:
Georges Braque (1882–1963) was a French painter, sculptor, and printmaker whose pioneering vision transformed the course of twentieth 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 Cezannes theories of form and perspective. Braques 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. Braques 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 Christies New York for Paysage a la Ciotat (1907).
Georges Braque, La Bouteille de Marc, XXe Siecle 1956, lithograph printed by Mourlot.
