
Description
This exquisite lithograph and pochoir by Umberto Brunelleschi (1879-1949), titled Sans titre (Untitled), originates from the celebrated album Les contes de Boccace (The Tales of Boccaccio), published by Gibert Jeune, Librairie d'Amateurs, Paris. The album was rendered by A. Dantan, Paris, with hand coloring executed under the direction of the artist by E. Carpenter, Paris, and printed by R. Coulouma in Argenteuil under the direction of H. Barthelemy, Paris, completed on December 20, 1934. The composition exemplifies Brunelleschis refined Art Deco elegance, theatrical imagination, and mastery of line and color. Executed as a lithograph and pochoir on velin des Papeteries de Navarre paper, this work measures 10.24 x 7.87 inches. Unsigned and unnumbered as issued. The composition reflects the exceptional craftsmanship and color refinement characteristic of Brunelleschis finest illustrated editions of the interwar period. Artwork Details: Artist: Umberto Brunelleschi (1879-1949) Title: Sans titre (Untitled), from Les contes de Boccace (The Tales of Boccaccio) Medium: Lithograph and pochoir on velin des Papeteries de Navarre paper Dimensions: 10.24 x 7.87 inches Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered as issued Date: 1934 Publisher: Gibert Jeune, Librairie d'Amateurs, Paris Printer: R. Coulouma, Argenteuil; under the direction of H. Barthelemy, Paris Condition: Well preserved, consistent with age and medium Provenance: From the album Les contes de Boccace (The Tales of Boccaccio), published by Gibert Jeune, Librairie d'Amateurs, Paris, 1934 Notes: Excerpted from the album (translated from French), This edition of the Last five days of Boccaccio's tales, drawn on velin des Papeteries de Navarre, is illustrated with sixteen color out-of-text and sixty-eight black drawings by Brunelleschi, designed by Louis Malexis, and was finished to print on December 20, 1934, on the presses of the master printer R. Coulouma in Argenteuil, H. Barthelemy being director; the reproduction of the engravings was entrusted to A. Dantan, and the colors were executed under the direction of the artist by E. Carpenter. Justification for the draw: the second edition of this edition of the Contos de Boccace, illustrated with sixteen color out-of-text and seventy drawings (bandeaux, letters, culs-de-lampe) in black by Brunelleschi, has been limited to MMD examples, all numbered on the colophon. About the Publication: Les contes de Boccace (The Tales of Boccaccio), published in 1934 by Gibert Jeune, Librairie d'Amateurs, Paris, stands as one of the most refined achievements of French illustrated publishing between the wars. Conceived as a deluxe literary and visual project, the album brought together the classical text of Giovanni Boccaccio with a comprehensive cycle of illustrations by Umberto Brunelleschi, one of the leading decorative artists of the Art Deco period. Printed on velin des Papeteries de Navarre and executed with a combination of black drawings and richly hand colored pochoirs, the publication reflects the highest standards of Parisian artisanal print production. The collaboration between designer Louis Malexis, engraver A. Dantan, colorist E. Carpenter, and master printer R. Coulouma resulted in a harmonized synthesis of typography, illustration, and color. Les contes de Boccace exemplifies the golden age of the French livre d'artiste, when literary heritage, modern illustration, and meticulous craftsmanship converged to create objects of enduring artistic and historical importance. About the Artist: Umberto Brunelleschi (1879-1949) was an Italian-born painter, illustrator, stage designer, and graphic artist whose sophisticated fusion of Art Deco elegance, theatrical imagination, and modernist stylization established him as one of the most distinctive visual voices of early 20th-century Paris, particularly in fashion illustration, deluxe illustrated editions, and costume and stage design. Active within the same intellectually charged and experimental environment as Pablo Picasso, Alexander Calder, Alberto Giacometti, Salvador Dali, Joan Miro, Wassily Kandinsky, Marcel Duchamp, and Man Ray, Brunelleschi absorbed the periods radical rethinking of form, symbolism, and abstraction while maintaining a refined decorative sensibility grounded in exquisite line, color harmony, and ornamental rhythm. Deeply influenced by Symbolism, the Ballets Russes, and the vibrant theatrical culture of interwar Europe, he developed a visual language that blended wit, sensuality, fantasy, and psychological nuance, perfectly capturing the spirit of modern luxury and escapism. Closely associated with leading figures of fashion and design such as Erte, Paul Poiret, George Barbier, and Leon Bakst, Brunelleschi became internationally celebrated for his pochoirs, couture illustrations, and illustrated editions produced for elite Parisian publishers and fashion houses, works that defined the visual identity of Art Deco sophistication. His imagery shaped the aesthetics of fashion illustration, editorial design, and stage costume well into the mid-20th century. Highly prized today for their rarity, craftsmanship, and historical importance, Brunelleschis works remain cornerstones of major Art Deco collections, and his market strength was reaffirmed in 2019 when an important illustrated pochoir work achieved approximately 325000 USD at Sothebys Paris, confirming his enduring stature within the international Art Deco canon. Umberto Brunelleschi lithograph, Brunelleschi pochoir, Brunelleschi Les contes de Boccace, Brunelleschi Art Deco illustration, Brunelleschi 1934 Paris, Brunelleschi Gibert Jeune.
Condition
Well preserved, consistent with age and medium
Buyer's Premium
5%
Dimensions
10.24 x 7.87 in
Umberto Brunelleschi, Untitled, from The Tales of Boccaccio, Limited Edition Lithograph and Pochoir,
Estimate $1,000-$1,300
Starting Price
$720
$720
$740
$760
Get approved to bid.
LiveAuctioneers Purchase Protection
Vetted auction houses
Secure, online bidding
Returns guaranteed for misrepresented listings
Dedicated support when you need it
Masters of Modern Art
Mar 25, 2026 1:00 PM EDTNorwalk, CT, United States
TOP
































