Simone Haret (XX) - Le Chat

SIMONE HARET (1904 – 1978)
Le Chat, circa 1970

Original lithograph printed in a single pass with an intense night-blue monochrome.
• Support: A proof on high-quality textured art paper with deckle edges (natural fringes preserved).
• Signatures: Monogrammed “SH” on the bottom right of the plate. Dimensions noted on the reverse in pencil “50x38”.
• Sheet dimensions: 50 x 38 cm (rasin demi format).
• Matrix dimensions: 25 x 30.7 cm.
• Condition: Pristine conservation. Proof with great freshness, uniform monochrome field, paper perfectly sound with no foxing or browning.

DESCRIPTION OF THE WORK & AESTHETIC INTENT
This masterful lithograph is a perfect illustration of the linear minimalism that flourished at the height of the 1970s. Simone Haret yields here a work of absolute economy of means, where the silhouette of the cat blends into a universal roundness.
The motif of the sleeping cat curled up is achieved by a purified technique of spatial reserve: the flowing lines draw a continuous arabesque that captures the very essence of rest and sleep. The piece subtly oscillates between gentle animal figuration and modern geometric abstraction. The use of a single bold color highlights the striking contrast between the depth of a matte night-blue and the immaculate whiteness of the support.

TECHNICAL NOTE AND SUPPORT QUALITY
The work stands out for the exceptional quality of its material execution:
• The print: The absolute sharpness of the white contours testifies to a rigorous mastery of the lithographic press. The color field is dense, even, and notably vibrant.
• The paper: The print was pulled on handmade art paper of remarkable thickness. A close-up of the sheet’s edge reveals a generous grain and deckle edges typical of hand-crafted processes (cuve method). This noble support brings a unique organic vibration to the work.

BIOGRAPHY OF THE ARTIST
Simone HARET (1904–1978) is a French painter, watercolorist, and lithographer whose body of work spans the 20th century. Renowned for her pared-down compositions, delicate landscapes, and graphic explorations, she developed a timeless style marked by the poetry of the line.
Her works, be they inks, watercolors, or paintings, are characterized by a great chromatic sensitivity and radical simplification of forms. Very attentive to the choice of supports, she reserved her finest prints for exceptionally manufactured papers. Her creations regularly appear in international modern art auction catalogs.

CONDITION REPORT
The work is presented in exceptional freshness, deemed to be in “perfect condition.”
• The paper has perfectly preserved its original elasticity and its natural off-white color, free of any thermal yellowing or insolation.
• This sheet shows no foxing, creases, or edge tears. The lithographic flat has remained intact and has suffered no rubbing or surface alteration.