Alexander Calder Squash Blossoms Color Lithograph, Hand-Signed in Pencil, E.A., Framed

Hand-signed in pencil "Calder" lower right and "E.A." lower left (artist's proof annotation).

PRODUCT DETAILS

• Artist/Composition: Alexander Calder (1898-1976), "Squash Blossoms", composed for the 1972 XXe Siecle homage volume to Calder (G. di San Lazzaro, Paris; printed by Mourlot)

• Signature: Hand-signed in graphite pencil "Calder" lower right, "E.A." lower left, no edition fraction. The pencil is hand-applied, not printed. No certificate of authenticity is offered.

• Material: Color lithograph on mould-made wove paper with deckle edges; silver aluminium section frame under glass

• Dimensions: Sheet approx 14 x 20 1/2 in; printed pale ground panel approx 9 x 12 1/2 in; colored composition approx 7 1/2 x 11 1/2 in; framed approx 17 1/4 x 23 1/2 in (all approximate)

• Color/Finish: Red-orange flower heads outlined in heavy black on fine black stems, over tapering columns in red, yellow and blue, on a pale printed ground panel against a warm grey-green sheet

• Condition: Good, examined through the glass. Sheet clean and unfaded with strong color; one or two small dark specks in the lower margin; a loose fibre under the glass on the black mat; deckle edges visible at the right and bottom; no tears, creases or mat burn visible; light handling marks to the frame

• Era/Period: Composition 1972; impressions are catalogued variously as 1972 to c.1974

Eight flower heads over red, yellow and blue columns, an exact match to published examples of Calder's "Squash Blossoms" down to the placement of every blossom. Where most examples on the market are trimmed close to the image, this one sits on a full untrimmed sheet with wide margins and deckle edges, and close up the yellow, red and blue areas show the directional striations of lithographic crayon rather than flat mechanical ink. One of three matching sheets framed at the same time in identical silver frames.