And the prize for the best title goes to... Joan Mir�

This is one of my favourite Joan Mir� lithographs, mostly because of the strength of the image with its vivid colour and lively composition, but also because of its hilarious title. It was created in 1952 in atelier Mourlot for the art revue Verve, published by T�riade. The double issue in which it appeared (no. 27-28) is one of the most sought-after issues of this legendary publication, as it contains not just this astonishing work by Mir� but also Chagall's Visions de Paris (8 lithographs), Matisse's La tristesse du roi, L�ger's La partie de campagne, and additional lithographs by Braque, Henri Laurens, Alberto Giacometti, Andr� Masson, Francisco Bor�s, and Marcel Gromaire.

Joan Mir�, The Dog Barking at the Moon
Lithograph, 1952

The full title of the Mir� is lithographed in Mir�'s hand on the reverse of the print: Le chien aboyant � la lune reveille le coq le chant du coq picote le crane du fermier Catalan pos� sur la table � cot� du pourron. The dog barking at the moon wakes the cock, the song of the cock pecks at the head of the Catalan farmer resting on the table by the flask of wine.

Joan Mir�, Le chien aboyant � la lune (title)
Lithograph, 1952

Like the other double page lithographs in this edition of Verve, The Dog Barking at the Moon has a central vertical fold, and tiny, barely-visible, threadholes where it was bound into the revue. And like almost all Verve lithos, there are additional lithographs on the reverse - in this case the title, and what seems like a preparatory sketch for the main composition.

Joan Mir�, Preparatory study for The Dog Barking at the Moon
Lithograph, 1952

Below are a few more choice images from this wonderful edition of Verve, none of which comes close to the Mir� for Monty Python-esque lunacy of concept or title.

Marc Chagall, Vision of Paris
Lithograph, 1952

Marc Chagall, Place de la Concorde
Lithograph, 1952

Henri Matisse, La tristesse du roi
Lithograph, 1952

Georges Braque, Untitled (Birds)
Lithograph, 1952

Henri Laurens, Daphne
Lithograph, 1952

Alberto Giacometti, L'arbre
Lithograph, 1952

Andr� Masson, Le torrent
Lithograph, 1952

Francisco Bor�s, La femme en bleu
Lithograph, 1952

Marcel Gromaire, Int�rieur flamand
Lithograph, 1952

Fernand L�ger, La partie de campagne
Lithograph, 1952

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