Oiseaux #178, 1962

Color Lithograph on Arches paper. - Published by XXe Siècele, Paris/ Printed by Mourlot, Paris. - Reference: Vallier 178, Mourlot 117. - Image Size: 12 3/8 in x 10 1/2 in (31 cm x 26 cm) - Sheet Size: 22 in x 16 1/2 in (55.9 cm x 41.9 cm) Oiseaux #178 (1962) by Georges Braque is a color lithograph printed on Arches paper and published in Paris for the influential art magazine XXe Siècle, produced by Gualtieri di San Lazzaro. The print was executed at the renowned Atelier Mourlot, one of the most important print workshops in twentieth-century modern art. The composition reflects Braque’s enduring fascination with birds, a motif that dominated his late career. Several dark silhouettes glide across a soft, pale pink sky, their wings stretched in different positions of flight. The simplified shapes emphasize movement and rhythm rather than anatomical detail. Toward the lower portion of the image, the forms dissolve into abstract shapes resembling clouds or distant shadows, creating a sense of atmospheric depth and tranquility. Braque’s bird imagery symbolized freedom, contemplation, and harmony. In this lithograph the contrast between the deep black figures and the muted background creates a quiet, meditative scene that evokes balance and calm.