445 - After Georges BRAQUE (1882–1963)

After Georges BRAQUE (1882–1963) “Icarios” Color lithograph on Arches vellum paper, embossed and partially gilded with 23K fine gold (958.3/1000) Based on the series “Homage to Braque’s Jewelry” by Heger de Löwenfeld Signed and numbered 84/200 in pencil in the lower right corner Engraved “G. Braque” in the lower right corner, and the inscriptions “Hommage aux bijoux de BRAQUE,” “ICARIOS,” “23-karat fine gold,” and “sculpt. Heger de LÖwenfeld” engraved at the bottom 38.5 x 57 cm. (Minimal wear) Note: This lithograph is part of the artistic legacy of Georges Braque, a major figure in modern art, whose work explores the connections between form, material, and poetry. In particular, it evokes the unique world of Braque’s “Sculptures précieuses” and jewelry, which were showcased during the famous historic exhibition held from December 2, 1970, to January 15, 1971, at the Moulin de Vauboyen in Bièvres. This exhibition attests to the richness of an artistic language in which painting, sculpture, and jewelry come together in a shared quest for balance and expression. Catalog entry: This sheet is part of a series created following the 1961 meeting between Georges Braque and Heger de Löwenfeld. Based on the drawings and gouaches entrusted to her by the painter, Löwenfeld created the *Métamorphoses* series in three dimensions, primarily between 1962 and 1963. These precious jewels and sculptures, inspired by the birds and mythological figures dear to Braque, were exhibited at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris in 1963. Some are based on the painter’s earlier lithographs, such as the one that adorns René Char’s *Cinq poésies en hommage à Georges Braque*. As a collaborator with Pablo Picasso in the invention of Cubism, Braque thus took his place in the history of artist-designed jewelry, a field that François Hugo was exploring at the same time with Picasso, Jean Cocteau, and Max Ernst. Pieces from the series are now housed at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris and in Saint-Dié-des-Vosges. This is a lithograph based on the artist’s work.