1959 Lithograph Raoul Dufy Poster Art Greek Tragedy Comedy Play Fernand Mourlot

This is an original color lithograph, created by Raoul Dufy in 1956, and produced by Fernand Mourlot in 1959. Dufy designed this poster for his friend Jean-Louis Barrault in 1954 in anticipation of a U. S. theatrical tour, but it was not printed until 1956.

CONDITION

This 52+ year old Item is rated Near Mint / Very Fine+. No creases. No natural defects. No surface rub. No tears. No water damage. Please note that the small blemish in the bottom margin of the digital image is NOT on the item.

• Product Type: Original Lithograph; Color
• Grade: Near Mint / Very Fine+
• Dimensions: Approximately 7 x 9.5 inches; 18 x 24 cm
• Authentication: Serial-Numbered Certificate of Authenticity w/ Full Provenance
• Protection: Packaged in a custom archival sleeve with an acid-free black board (great for display, gift-giving, and preservation)

Period Paper has acquired a large collection of original lithographs from 1959 by legendary printer Fernand Mourlot of Imprimerie Mourlot Frères, Paris. These lithographs are miniature versions of some of the finest lithographed posters of the mid-20th century. They are the most coveted of the miniature posters that exist today due to the lithographic processes used to create them and the artists of the Mourlot studio who produced them. Please note, these are NOT current reproductions, copies, or digital prints.

Fernand Mourlot. The son of Jules Mourlot, he and two of his brothers joined their father in the Imprimerie Bataille, Paris. Upon the death of Jules Mourlot in 1921, the atelier was renamed Mourlot Frères. Under the guidance of Fernand, Mourlot Frères developed an exceptional reputation with museums and galleries for producing finely executed art posters in the 1920's and 1930's. The prominent artists of the day--Bonnard, Chagall, Picasso, Matisse, Dufy, Gris, Braque, Léger, Kandinsky, Miró, etc., all came to the studio and began years of cooperative work with Fernand Mourlot. The results of this collaboration were so successful that more and more galleries chose Mourlot to print posters for their exhibits, known as Affiches de Peintres Lithographiées. By the mid-20th century, the reputation of Mourlot Fr�res was so respected that the words "Imprimée par Mourlot" were enough to guarantee the finest quality lithographs and demand a premium collector or auction value, worldwide.

This piece was illustrated by Dufy, Raoul. Artist signature in print - bottom center of image.

Dufy, Raoul

French Fauvist painter Raoul Dufy, a native of Le Harve, began studying art at a local art school, where he first met Othon Friesz. Friesz quickly became a lifelong friend of Dufy, and the two would often paint together outside of their academic art training. Thereafter, the two attended the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Bonnat. Dufy's works imitated the impressionist style of Van Gogh, Renoir, Vollard, Gauguin and others. It was not until the early 1900s that Dufy began painting in the Fauvism style. Later, he was introduced to cubism and began incorporating the style into his works. Dufy first came into success through commissions for tapestries and needlework. Thereafter he created popular textile designs, which were circulated by grands couturiers of Paris, including Paul Poiret and Bianchini. Later, he completed woodcut illustrations for books by Guillaume Apollinaire, Stephane Mallarme and other noteworthy poets. He also completed works of ceramics, social life, nudes, rococo style art and murals, including his most ambitious mural "Electricity through the Ages," which was completed for the Paris World's Fair of 1937. Dufy always remained true to his artistic stylings and painted the world as he saw it. In fact, his paintings were often revered as vogue. Dufy died in 1953 of a heart condition.

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