1970s Pair of Mid-Century Modernist Signed Color Lithographs by Shan-Merry (French, 1935–2024)

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An exceptional diptych pairing of limited-edition color lithographs by the internationally acclaimed French modernist painter and watercolorist, Shan-Merry. Each piece … Read more An exceptional diptych pairing of limited-edition color lithographs by the internationally acclaimed French modernist painter and watercolorist, Shan-Merry. Each piece is hand-signed and sequentially numbered in pencil by the artist from a highly scarce global edition of 450 examples.

Conceived as a conceptual mirror pair, the collection displays a striking compositional juxtaposition: one work features a fluid horizontal study of two figures, while its counterpart presents a singular, ethereal female visage in a bold vertical format. The compositions are defined by Shan-Merry's highly celebrated signature aesthetic, blending sweeping atmospheric washes of cerulean blue, moody teal, charcoal gray, and soft amethyst. These watercolor fields are balanced against minimalist paper negative space and anchored by intense, sgraffito-like ink line work that dramatizes the figures' eyes and silhouettes.

Born in France, Shan-Merry (1935–2024) initiated her formal artistic studies in 1957 at the prestigious École Nationale Supérieure des Arts et Métiers in Angers. By 1972, she had launched her professional career, exhibiting her deeply romantic, dreamlike interpretations of the female form across major salons in Paris and prominent galleries along the French Riviera, including Cannes, Antibes, and Grasse.

Her singular blend of abstraction and figurative elegance brought her swift international acclaim, earning her the New York Watercolor Prize in 1974 and the Gold Medal Signature Prize from the Italian Academy in 1979. Her commercial success extended into luxury fashion houses, most notably executing textile and scarf commissions for Hermès. Today, her limited-edition graphic works and original watercolors are preserved in elite corporate and private collections across Belgium, Germany, Japan, and the United States.

The works are housed in identical, masterfully crafted custom gallery frames. The design features a deep green faux-marble outer border, delicate gilded rope twisting, deep teal inner bevels, and crisp white presentation matting. Bringing immediate architectural symmetry and cool-toned metallic luster, this rare matching set serves as an elevated, scale-conscious focal collection for a modernist library, dining salon, or upscale principal suite.

(Note: The vertical sheet has safely shifted down slightly within its mount and requires a standard archival re-hinging to return to premium gallery presentation status).

Artist: Shan-Merry (French, 1935–2024)

Title: Untitled (Feminine Studies) — A Diptych Suite

Medium: Color Lithographs on Fine Graphic Wove Paper

Signature: Hand-Signed by the Artist in Pencil (Lower Right)

Edition: Sequentially Numbered 54/450 and 238/450 in Pencil (Lower Left)

Date of Execution: Circa 1975–1985

Sheet Dimensions (Unframed): 16.0" H × 19.5" W (Horizontal) / 19.5" H × 16.0" W (Vertical)

Framed Dimensions (Individual): 25.0" H × 28.5" W × 1.25" D (Horizontal) / 28.5" H × 25.0" W × 1.25" D (Vertical)

Framing: Custom Gilt, Faux-Marble Lacquered Wood Profiles, Teveled Matboards, Exhibition Glass See less