Abstraction bleue

This rare 1950 original poster by Georges Braque for the Galerie Maeght is a striking example of how one of the founders of Cubism translated his painterly language into the medium of graphic art. Rather than functioning as a conventional exhibition advertisement, the poster reads like an autonomous Braque composition—an intimate work on paper where gesture, line, and color take precedence over narrative or representation.

The image is built from fluid, calligraphic strokes of deep blue that suggest a stylized profile, drifting forms, and abstract signs suspended across a pale ground. These elements echo Braque’s postwar exploration of simplified symbols, birds, heads, and mythic shapes, all reduced to their essential contours. The loose, almost improvised quality of the brushwork conveys both movement and meditation, inviting the viewer into a contemplative visual space rather than directing them toward a specific subject.

Printed for the Galerie Maeght—one of the most important Parisian galleries of the 20th century and a key supporter of modern masters such as Braque, Miró, Giacometti, and Chagall—the poster reflects the gallery’s philosophy of treating posters as original works of art, not mere ephemera. The discreet typography balances the composition without disturbing its painterly autonomy, reinforcing the sense that the image itself is the primary message.

Today, this poster stands as a highly desirable piece of modern art history. It embodies Braque’s mature style, where abstraction becomes lyrical and symbolic rather than analytical, and where the boundary between painting, drawing, and graphic design dissolves. As both a gallery poster and an original artwork, it represents the moment when modern art entered everyday visual culture while retaining its poetic depth.

Original Poster

Exhibition - Abstract

Good condition