Plate from 'Ubu aux Baléares' (Ubu in the Balearics)
Original print (lithograph) on paper • Joan Miró (1893–1983)
Style & Movement
Surrealism / Abstract Expressionism
Medium & Technique
Color lithograph utilizing crayon and wash-like ink effects on archival art paper
Creation Period
1971
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 50 x 66 cm (sheet size); Landscape orientation
Subject Description
A series of three whimsical, anthropomorphic figures characteristic of Miró's late-period 'Ubu' series. The figures are rendered with bold black calligraphic strokes and primary color accents in red, blue, and yellow. The iconography stems from Alfred Jarry's character Père Ubu, a grotesque symbol of power and greed, simplified into biomorphic, playful shapes.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good to Very Good; visible light toning to the paper and slight undulation consistent with age and framing.
Estimated Market Value
$3,000 - $6,000 USD (depending on hand-signature and edition size)
Auction Estimate
$2,500 - $4,500 USD
Provenance History
Features a 'Miró' signature in the plate/stone and likely pencil-signed below the mat edge (not fully visible). Inscriptions 'C 192' and '4200' indicate inventory or catalogue raisonné numbering. Usually published by Tériade, Paris.
Art Historical Significance
Part of the 'Ubu aux Baléares' portfolio, which is a major pillar of Miró's graphic output. It encapsulates his mastery of the lithographic medium and his long-standing fascination with the 'Ubu' theme, representing his satirical critique of authority through surrealist abstraction.
Notable Features
Distinguished by the characteristic loose, 'gestural' ink application of the late 20th-century period. The inclusion of catalogue references in pencil suggests a former gallery or institutional provenance.
Condition Issues
Mild paper oxidation (light yellowing) and potential light-strike from historical framing. Some minor surface smudging in margins.
Conservation Recommendations
Professional re-framing using acid-free mounting materials and 99% UV-protective museum glass is recommended to prevent further paper degradation.