Description:This magical garden scene depicts a myriad of color, accented with Miró’s signature color splatters in greenish hues throughout. We are able to make out his abstracted “rosebuds” as they seem to flitter down the right side of the composition. Our protagonist lizard is shown here in childish wonder and whimsical fancy. The poem accompanying this image written by Miró is as follows:
La pluie tombe Bébé roses (It’s raining baby roses)
Suce la niche de la trombe (Suck the niche of the waterspout)
Maman brune aux yeux creux (Brown mother with hollow eyes)
D’une limbe-tombeau respire (From a limb-tomb breaths)
Bleu dans le gouffre (Blue in the pit)
Noir de Désespoir (Black of despair)
Created in 1971 as part of a series of 15 color lithographs by Joan Miró to illustrate a book of his own poetry. Titled Le Lézard aux Plumes d’Or (The Lizard with Golden Feathers) , these works were published by Broder, Paris and printed by Mourlot, Paris. Numbered 7/50 in pencil in the lower left margin (out of the edition of 50 on Rives vellum paper) and hand signed by Joan Miró (1893 – 1983) in pencil in the lower right 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. Cramer, Patrick. Joan Miró, The Illustrated Books: Catalogue Raisonné, Geneva, 1989. Listed and illustrated as cat. no. 148 on pgs. 370-1.
2. Joan Miró Lithograph vol. IV 1969 – 1972, Maeght Editeur, Paris. Listed and illustrated as cat. no. 806 on pg. 162 and detailed on pg. 153.
About the Framing:
Set in a Spanish-style, stepped gold and black frame, the ribbon detailing of the moulding compliments the meandering curved shapes within the image. The black and gold coloration of the frame also serves to enhance the contrasting colors within the piece. Completed with white, linen-wrapped mats with a matching gold inner fillet, this lithograph is set behind an archival Plexiglas® cover.
