Antoni Clavé (1913-2005) - Christmas card

EXCEPTIONAL “BON À TIRER” LITHOGRAPH OF ANTONI CLAVÉ — 1958
Antoni Clavé & Maria Sanmartí
An artistic and familial testimony of great rarity

Antoni Clavé (1913–2005) & Maria Sanmartí (1886–1959)
Original lithograph – Reference proof / “Bon à Tirer”
1958
Dimensions: 28 × 38 cm

A RARE WORK, RICH IN EMOTION AND SENSE

We present here a particularly singular piece from Antoni Clavé’s oeuvre, bringing together, in a single composition, his artistic universe and that of his mother, Maria Sanmartí.

Created in 1958, this work stands out for its double dimension, both artistic, familial and intimate. It constitutes a true testimony of the relationship between two artists from two generations, each developing, in their own way, a deeply personal visual language.

The exceptional interest of this copy lies especially in its status as a “Bon à Tirer,” i.e. a reference proof made at the moment of preparing the lithographic print. The presence of registration marks in the margins reinforces its documentary character and directly testifies to the creation and printing process.

ON THE LEFT — THE UNIVERSE OF ANTONI CLAVÉ

The left side of the composition is immediately recognizable by its powerful, expressionist visual language. THE TWO KINGS

It contains the research that characterizes Clavé’s work in the 1950s: stylized figures, characters evoking medieval kings and warriors, faces built from geometric shapes, strong contrasts and a particularly dense graphic texture.

The dark tones, combined with shades of blue, red and black, give this part of the work a strong and almost monumental presence despite the relatively intimate format of the proof.

This aesthetic deliberately contrasts with the part devoted to Maria Sanmartí.

ON THE RIGHT — MARIA SANMARTÍ, FREEDOM AND FRESHNESS

The right part reveals a much freer, more colorful and spontaneous universe of Maria Sanmartí.

The juggler figure, rendered in a bright and expressive palette, expresses this creative freedom and freshness that characterizes her work.

Maria Sanmartí really began painting at a relatively advanced age, encouraged notably by her son Antoni Clavé. Her atypical artistic path gives this work a particularly moving dimension: creativity becomes a genuine dialogue between a mother and her son.

The contrast between Clavé’s expressionist, sombre language and Sanmartí’s almost childish freshness creates a visually original dialogue.

“BEST WISHES FOR 1958” — A PERSONAL MESSAGE TO HIS MOTHER

One of the most touching elements of this piece remains its handwritten inscription:

“Best Wishes for 1958 — Maria Sanmartí, Antoni Clavé”

Beyond its artistic dimension, this inscription gives the work a true personal dimension.

It is not merely an image intended to celebrate a new year: it stands as a fond homage from Antoni Clavé to his mother Maria Sanmartí, an artist herself, with whom he shared a deep closeness.

The year 1958 also gives this piece a particular historical value. Maria Sanmartí would pass away the following year, in 1959. Thus this work retroactively takes on an especially moving dimension in the history of their artistic and family relationship.

A DOCUMENT OF WORK OF GREAT RARITY

The presence of registration crosses and lithographer’s cutting marks in the margins shows that we are dealing with a proof directly tied to the production process.

The B.A.T. (“Bon à Tirer”) is an essential stage in lithographic production: it validates the image, colors, the various graphic elements and their positioning before the final printing.

As such, this copy has interest beyond that of a simple print: it is a working and creative document, allowing entry into the heart of the artistic and editorial process of the era.

CHARACTERISTICS
Artists: Antoni Clavé & Maria Sanmartí
Year: 1958
Technique: original lithography
Nature: reference proof / “Bon à Tirer” (B.A.T.)
Dimensions: 28 × 38 cm
Signature/mark: presence of hand-written initials “CL” in pencil, as indicated
Inscription: “Best Wishes for 1958 — Maria Sanmartí, Antoni Clavé”

Special feature: presence of registration crosses and cutting marks in the margins

Subject: composition uniting the worlds of Antoni Clavé and Maria Sanmartí
Era: Spanish avant-garde and modern art, mid-20th century

INTEREST FOR COLLECTORS

This piece speaks particularly to collectors of Antoni Clavé, of Maria Sanmartí, of original lithographs of the 20th century and, more broadly, to enthusiasts of historical documents related to Spanish modern art.

Its interest lies in the meeting of several elements rarely associated in a single copy:
Antoni Clavé + Maria Sanmartí + 1958 + collaborative lithographic work + personal message + BAT proof.

The familial dimension of the composition, the birthday wish addressed to Maria Sanmartí and the documentary nature of the proof make it a particularly singular piece.

A rare and deeply personal work, where modern art becomes the language of a family bond.

In 1958, Antoni Clavé associates his expressionist universe with that of his mother, Maria Sanmartí, in a composition that takes the form of a message of wishes.

Through the opposing figures of the king and the juggler, of shadow and color, of matter and spontaneity, this lithograph tells as much an artistic story as a family history.

A particularly moving testimony to the complicity between Antoni Clavé and Maria Sanmartí, made on the eve of her death in 1959.

Unpublished on the market
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