Description:One can only imagine the monumentality and grandeur of the ceramic mural featured on the building of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) headquarters in Paris. Successfully translating its whimsical beauty and surrealist elegance, both Joan Miró and his friends at Galerie Maeght created an edition of 300 lithographs of the piece.
Of creating large-scale murals, Miró writes: "Mural art is the very opposite of solitary creation… While one must preserve one's personality, one must also commit it deeply to the collective aspect of the work" (as cited in Dupin, p. 474) . Mur de la lune features a controlled intensity and vibrance unlike any other mural by Miró. He creates an anchoring checkboard-like composition of red and black rectangular shapes along the bottom margin, alluding to a lightness and expanse of space above. His iconic starburst is included in the center as is, of course, the crescent moon.
Created in 1957, this original color lithograph is based on an original ceramic wall mural by Joan Miró made especially for the UNESCO headquarters in Paris. Published by Maeght Editeur, Paris, this work features the embossed Galerie Maeght blindstamp in the lower left. Printed on BFK Rives watermarked paper, the work is numbered 202/300 in pencil in the lower left margin
Catalogue Raisonné & COA:
It 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. Dupin, Jacques. Joan Miró, Life and Work, Harry Abrams, Inc. Publishers: New York. Illustrated on pg. 471 and detailed on pgs. 473-7.
About the Framing:
Conservation framed with archival materials and museum quality, this work is float mounted on archival white linen in a monumental Spanish-style gold and black frame. The sculptural details of the moulding compliment the organic elements in this piece. The contrasting tones of the moulding accentuate and enhance the lights and darks of this work. Completed with white, linen-wrapped mats and a matching gold inner fillet, this work is set behind an archival Plexiglas® cover.
