Le Lézard aux plumes d'or (The Lizard with Golden Feathers)
Original color lithograph on paper • Joan Miró (Spanish, 1893–1983)
Style & Movement
Surrealism / Mid-Century Modernism
Medium & Technique
Color lithography with wax crayon textures; multi-color stone printing
Creation Period
1971
Dimensions & Format
Approx. 33.5 x 48 cm (sheet size); Landscape orientation
Subject Description
An abstract, zoomorphic composition featuring Miró's signature biomorphic calligraphy. The work uses heavy black gestural lines to suggest a fantastic creature, interspersed with primary color fields (red, blue, yellow) and green. It explores the relationship between poetic text and visual image, characteristic of the 'Le Lézard aux plumes d\'or' series.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good to Very Good; colors appear vibrant through glazing
Estimated Market Value
$3,000 - $6,000 USD (depending on presence of pencil signature and numbering)
Auction Estimate
$2,500 - $4,500 USD
Provenance History
Likely from the 1971 edition published by Louis Broder, Paris. Distribution typically through galleries specializing in 20th-century modernist prints.
Art Historical Significance
This series represents a seminal late-career collaboration where Miró authored both the verse and the imagery. It is a prime example of his 'peinture-poésie' (painting-poetry) concept and his mastery of the lithographic medium.
Notable Features
Features a printed signature in the upper right quadrant. The texture of the black lines mimics the artist's use of greasy litho-crayon, providing a highly tactile 'impasto' effect typical of his prints from the 1970s.
Condition Issues
Possible light toning along paper edges; minor reflections on glass indicate it may not be museum-grade UV glass; slight waviness at the top edge suggests it might be hinged to the mat.
Conservation Recommendations
Ensure the use of acid-free museum-grade matting and UV-protective glass to prevent fading of sensitive fugitive pigments like red and yellow. Periodical inspection for foxing.