Série Noir et Rouge - No. 6, 1938. The Black and Red Series No. 6, 1938 by Joàn Miró, 1893-1983

Joàn Miró, 1893-1983
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Série Noir et Rouge - No. 6, 1938. The Black and Red Series No. 6, 1938

Original etching in two colours. 1938. Signed in pencil. Numbered (17) from the edition of 30 impressions only (There were also a few, perhaps 10, artist's proof impressions). Etched at the studio of Marcousis. Printed at the studio of Lacourière, Paris 1938. Issued by Pierre Loeb Paris and Pierre Matisse, New York, 1938. Very rare.
Ref: Dupin - Miro Graveur no 37.
Provenance: Purchased Galerie Bergruen, Paris c.1950.

Brilliant rich impression. On pale cream wove Arches paper. Excellent condition. Full margins. Sheet: 12 3/4 x 17 3/4ins). Plate: 6 5/8 x 10 1/8ins (170x258mm)

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A superb impression of one of the two-plate prints, in red and black ink, which form Miro's most important 1938 series 'Noir et Rouge'.

In Paris in 1938 just before the War Miro became involved with a series of eight etchings which were to be probably to the most important graphic works of his Surrealist-period. It was at this time that Miro was developing his concept of subliminal 'automatic form', that is the use of strokes and shapes which were not taken from conscious rational ideas but were random and produced in a state of semi-hallucination as in 'automatic writing'. Working at the studio of his friend Marcoussis he hit upon the idea that by drawing two plates and then overprinting them in two different colours - red and black - ,and then by reversing the registration of one plate on the other, a sequence of eight images was possible. Overprinting two independent and pictorially unrelated plates drawn with such forms increased the random effect of the resulting image.

The work above shows why the compositions that he drew in this manner have come to be seen as amongst the greatest creations in the graphic work of Miro's important Surrealist period. Imagery, concept and inventive technique come together in such a way that each stimulates the other. The interplay of the two colours and the sharply bitten lines and forms makes an image which sparkles with atmosphere and dreamlike movement.

Each etching in the 'Noir et Rouge' series was only printed in an edition of 30 impressions.