Nicholas Savard

"Grande Nature Morte Rouge et Noire" Lithograph in Colors by Bernard Cathelin (French, 1919–2004)

A commanding presence in any room, this monumental lithograph distills everything that made Bernard Cathelin one of France's most beloved post-war colorists. Against an incandescent field of red — ranging from the deep crimson of fresh blood to the molten orange of late afternoon light — a spare still life unfolds with quiet drama: a low plate holding a pair of golden persimmons to the left, and a dark, voluminous jug flanked by a slender bottle to the right. Bold black panels anchor the upper corners, framing the composition like a stage curtain drawn back to reveal a world entirely defined by color, temperature, and stillness.

Cathelin's genius was to make color itself the subject. Rather than describing objects, he coaxes light from them — the persimmons glow as if lit from within, the tabletop shimmers between orange and red, and the negative space vibrates with chromatic warmth. In his lithographs, Cathelin set out to achieve the same material density and tactile richness as his oil paintings, and this exceptional large-format épreuve d'artiste proves he succeeded. The piece is hand-signed by the artist and annotated as an artist's proof — outside the standard numbered edition — making it a uniquely personal document of Cathelin's practice.

At 44 by 92 inches, this is a work that demands wall space worthy of it. It is equally at home in a modern loft, a collector's library, or a gallery-caliber living room. Co-published by the artist himself alongside Parisian publisher De Francony, the impression has excellent provenance and exemplifies Cathelin at the peak of his printmaking career.

$19,500.00