Joan Miró, Lithograph, L'enfance d'Ubu (Childhood of Ubu), 1975

Artist: Joan Miró (1893 - 1983)
Title:Lithograph, L'enfance d'Ubu (Childhood of Ubu), 1975
Medium:Color Lithograph
Image Size:19 7/8 in x 13 in (50.5 cm x 33 cm)
Sheet Size:19 7/8 in x 13 in (50.5 cm x 33 cm)
Framed Size:approx. 34 in x 27 in (86.4 cm x 68.6 cm)
Edition:Numbered from the edition of 120 in pencil in the lower left; aside from 20 hors commerce copies, numbered I to XX.
Signature:This work is hand-signed by Joan Miró (Barcelona, 1893 - Palma, 1983) in pencil in the lower right.
Condition:This work is in excellent condition.
ID #w-5100

Historical Description

L'enfance d'Ubu is one of three illustrated books inspired by the French playwright Alfred Jarry's (1873-1907) plays Ubu Roi, Ubu Cocu, and Ubu Enchaîné. Seen as precursors to the Surrealist theater of the 1920's and 1930's, these absurd and burlesque texts moved Miró to create L'enfance d'Ubu. This album of color lithographs contains many double portraits of curious creatures. Sticklike four-legged beasts crawl across the page to greet exuberant, honeybee figures standing upright. As the title attests, this work is a song of childhood, of secret worlds populated by fantastic beings and alive with color.

Created in 1975, this work from an album of 24 lithographs under the same title. Hand-signed by Joan Miró (Barcelona, 1893 - Palma, 1983) in pencil in the lower right margin, the piece is numbered 31/120 in pencil at the lower left. A total edition of 140 copies printed on Arches wove or japan nacré exists, comprising a signed and numbered edition of 120, to which our print belongs, and an additional 20 hors commerce copies, numbered from I to XX. Printed by Mourlot, Paris, the album was published by Tériade Editeur, also in Paris.

Catalogue Raisonné & COA:
This work is fully documented and referenced in the below catalogue raisonnés and texts (copies will be enclosed as added documentation with the invoices that will accompany the final sale of the work).

1. Maeght Éditeur. Joan Miró: Lithographs, Vol. V 1972-1975. Paris: Maeght Éditeur.

2. Cramer, Patrick. Joan Miró, The Illustrated Books: catalogue raisonné. Geneva: Patrick Cramer, Publisher, 1989. Listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. 204 on pgs. 506-507.

3. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany this work.

About the Framing:
Framed to museum-grade, conservation standards, this work is presented in a complementary moulding and finished with silk-wrapped mats and optical grade Plexiglas.