Joan Miró (Spanish, 1893 – 1983)
Le Rat des Sables (The Sand Rat), 1975
Color Etching, Aquatint with Carborundum on Arches paper.
Edition of 50
138 cm x 96 cm (54.33″ x 38″)
Dupin 755
Hand-signed by Joan Miró in pencil in the lower right margin
PRICE: on request.
Joan Miró (Spanish, 1893 – 1983), Le Rat des Sables (The Sand Rat), 1975 represents Miró’s mastery of printmaking and his innovative use of materials, such as carborundum, to create texture and depth. This stunning color etching and aquatint is a testament to Miró’s ability to marry abstraction with figuration—his signature black forms are paired with vivid blue and red geometric shapes, dynamically capturing the spirit of playful simplicity. The composition evokes a fantastical creature: a “sand rat” animated by bold lines, fluid curves, and contrasting primary colors that give the work energy and movement. Miró famously stated, “I try to apply colors like words that shape poems, like notes that shape music.” Here, his poetic approach is clear, using carborundum to build physicality while contrasting the matte black figure against an ethereal beige background splattered with gestural marks.
Executed in an edition of 50 and measuring 138 x 96 cm (54.33 x 38 inches), Le Rat des Sables is highly prized among collectors for its combination of scale, rarity, and craftsmanship. This work is catalogued as Dupin 755, solidifying its importance in Miró’s oeuvre during the later stages of his career when he fully embraced experimental printmaking. Miró’s market remains robust; a comparable carborundum print from the period can achieve upwards of $100,000 at auction, reflecting increasing global demand for his large-scale graphic works. This piece, hand-signed in pencil in the lower right margin, epitomizes Miró’s ability to transcend medium, imbuing his prints with the same energy and lyrical abstraction as his paintings.
