Joan Miró: Paysanne Endormie

Paysanne Endormie, print for the exhibition of graphic works at the Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisbon: Date: 1981 Edition: 100 Dimensions: 71.5 x 105 cm. Paper: Velin Arches. Printer: Atelier LeLong, Paris. Printed signature: Certificate of authenticity printed and signed on the reverse by Emilio Fernandez Miró.

To coincide with Miró: Sculptor, Yorkshire Sculpture Park is pleased to exhibit and offer for sale a selection of the artist's limited edition lithographs, a rare chance to own one of the artists works. Joan Miró made graphic work throughout his career, embracing many different printmaking techniques, and he had a dedicated print studio in Son Boter, Palma, from 1959. He enjoyed collaborating with craftspeople in his sculpture, prints, ceramics and tapestry, learning from them and then developing his own unique, innovative approach, which often pushed the boundaries of the medium.

Through the eminent printmaker Robert Dutrou, in 1967 Miró was introduced to carborundum, a very painterly print medium, which transformed the artist’s later graphic work. Miró’s interest in printmaking was part of his desire to disseminate his work to a broad public. A lithograph is an authorised print of an original artwork made by drawing a mirror image of the desired form onto a stone, usually in wax. Ink clings to the wax lines when rolled onto the stone, which is then sits in the bed of the press, braced together with paper. Colour lithographs are usually made with a different pressing for each colour.