Joan Miro (1893-1983) - Lapidari

Unsigned workshop proof, with the seal of Talleres Calcográficos Joan Barbarà and certificate of Joan Barbarà

Magnificent workshop proof by Joan Miró, belonging to the Lapidari project or Llibre de les propietats de les pedres, published by Galerie Maeght in 1981.

This is an unsigned workshop proof, made at the Talleres Calcográficos de Joan Barbarà, Barcelona, and preserved as it left the workshop. On the reverse it bears the Barbarà Workshop seal and it is accompanied by a certificate from Joan Barbarà, which attests to its creation using etching and aquatint techniques, with touches of colored pastel.

One of the most interesting and uncommon features of this piece is that it entirely preserves the original Archés paper sheet, uncut, just as it was used during the workshop process. This circumstance allows the work to be appreciated in a state especially close to the moment of its creation and constitutes an item of interest for collectors specialized in graphic works and workshop proofs by Joan Miró.

The work corresponds to Miró Grabador IV references 1147-1148.

The Lapidari project

Under the title Lapidari, Joan Miró gathered twelve etchings and aquatints made in collaboration with the prestigious engraver Joan Barbarà. Once the prints were made, Miró worked with the writer Pere Gimferrer on the conception of the edition as an artist’s book.

The project included a selection of eleven anonymous Catalan texts from the 15th century, chosen and foreworded by Gimferrer, devoted to the properties attributed to various stones and to their relation with the knowledge and secrets of medieval alchemy.

The collaboration between Miró’s graphic work and these ancient Catalan texts gave rise to one of the most singular editions of an artist’s book in Miró’s graphic output during this period.

The Talleres Calcográficos Joan Barbarà

The importance of this proof is reinforced by its provenance from the Talleres Calcográficos Joan Barbarà, one of the fundamental workshops of contemporary engraving in Barcelona.

Through its facilities passed some of the most important Spanish and international artists of the 20th century, including Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, Antoni Tàpies, Modest Cuixart, Josep Subirachs, Albert Ràfols-Casamada and Salvador Dalí, among many others.

All of them found in Joan Barbarà an engraver master of extraordinary experience, capable of translating into the language of engraving the ideas and technical demands of great artists.

Features
Artist: Joan Miró (1893–1983)
Title: Lapidari / Llibre de les propietats de les pedres
Year: 1981
Technique: Etching and aquatint, with touches of colored pastel
Support: Archés paper
Condition: Unsigned workshop proof
Seal: Talleres Calcográficos Joan Barbarà, Barcelona, on the reverse
Certification: Certificate of Joan Barbarà
References: Miró Grabador IV, no. 1147-1148
Print: Talleres Calcográficos Joan Barbarà, Barcelona
Publisher: Galerie Maeght, 1981
Measurements: 35.5 x 100 cm (unfolded). 35.5 x 50 cm (stain).
A piece of particular interest for collectors of Joan Miró and historical graphic art, both for its status as a workshop proof and for preserving the original uncut paper, the Barbarà Workshop seal, and Joan Barbarà’s certificate.