The Bird

French artist and Cubism cofounder George Braque (1882–1963) influenced the history of art through his support of Fauvism and, later, through his role in the evolution of Cubism alongside his friend Pablo Picasso. Braque worked across various mediums, including printmaking.

From the Dorsky collection, "The Bird" is an example of a motif that the artist turned to frequently during the 1950s. He produced countless variations, illustrating the bird on its own, as part of a flock, or in flight.

In the Dorsky example, Braque contrasted a flattened, abstract white bird, fish, and a star against a clear night sky. He employed vibrant lapis lazuli blue highlighted by white and yellow accents, typical of his style. This lithograph’s abstract details are reminiscent of the works of Matisse and Picasso, who, like Braque, also illustrated animals, birds, and plants with minimal lines.