Original untitled 1971 lithograph by Zao Wou-Ki.  Printed by Atelier Mourlot for XXe Siècle.  For over 150 years, Mourlot was almost synonymous with lithography, producing work of such excellent quality that it was clear they had attained the height of printing mastery.  Presented in a 1 1/8 inch wide handmade matte black wood frame, white conservation mat, and protected by Tru Vue Optium Museum Acrylic® acrylic glazing.  Mat opening size: 12 x 9 1/4 inches; overall size with frame: 18 x 15 1/2 inches.   As with all of our framed art, the frame and framing materials are new.  The print is in mint condition, having never been displayed, and since framing is stored in a controlled environment away from light. 
 
Zao Wou-Ki (1920-2013) was a Chinese-French artist who is best known for his abstract paintings.  He was born in Beijing, China and trained in traditional Chinese painting techniques before studying at the École des Beaux-Arts in Hangzhou, with his early work influenced by traditional Chinese landscape painting.  In 1948, Zao moved to Paris, where he was exposed to Western art movements and gradually moved towards abstraction, developing a unique style that combined Eastern and Western techniques.  While his work was stylistically similar to that of the Abstract Expressionists he met while traveling in New York, Zao Wou-Ki stated that he had been more influenced by the works of Matisse, Picasso and Cézanne.  He is known for his large-scale paintings that feature dynamic, sweeping brushstrokes and vibrant colors.

Throughout his career, Zao's work was exhibited extensively in Europe and Asia, and he is widely regarded as one of the most important Chinese artists of the 20th century. Today, his works are held in the collections of major museums around the world, including the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and the National Museum of China in Beijing.  Today, his artwork is highly sought after by collectors, and his legacy continues to influence contemporary art in both China and the West.

XXe Siècle (Chroniques du Jour) was a deluxe art revue that published many outstanding prints.  It was published by Gualtieri di San Lazzaro from 1938-1939, and again from 1951 until 1978, with its artwork printed by the finest printers, such as Atelier Mourlot.  Many important artists contributed original prints, including Miro, Picasso, Chagall, Braque, Villon, Matta, Indiana, Rosenquist, Lam, Dali, Matisse, Delaunay, Ernst, Poliakoff, Soulages, Leger, Moore, Kandinsky, Agam, Arp, Calder, Magnelli, Baj, Marini, Vasarely, and Zao Wou-ki.