Untitled (Children with Bubbles), Jean-Baptiste Valadié (b.1933), c.1960s color lithograph, 20×26 in, pencil-signed, edition E.A. (Épreuve d’Artiste).
A charming and luminous Épreuve d’Artiste (Artist’s Proof) lithograph by French painter and printmaker Jean-Baptiste Valadié, this vibrant 20×26 in. work depicts children blowing bubbles in Valadié’s signature blend of lyrical linework and radiant Mediterranean color. Signed by the artist and printed as an E.A. proof, it captures the innocence, poetry, and dreamlike warmth that have made Valadié a favorite among collectors worldwide.
Artwork Description
This captivating color lithograph presents three children engaged in blowing bubbles — a quintessential Valadié theme celebrating innocence, imagination, and the ephemeral joy of childhood. The composition is anchored by expressive linework: thin, calligraphic strokes outline each child’s figure, while gestural sweeps of bright yellow, terracotta, turquoise, and soft green build a glowing, playful environment.
Valadié’s lithographic technique combines precision drawing with atmospheric abstraction. Areas of the image dissolve into textured washes and mottled fields of color, reminiscent of airbrushed pigment, spatter, or sponge effects. This layered surface creates a feeling of movement, echoing the drifting bubbles rising through the scene.
The three children form a gentle triad: the left figure gazes out at the viewer, the central child lifts an arm in mid-motion, and the right figure leans quietly into the act of blowing a bubble. The poses feel spontaneous yet harmonious, suggesting both individual character and collective play. Their presence is tender, nostalgic, and infused with the dreamlike aesthetic so closely associated with Valadié’s mid-century works.
The print is signed “Valadié” in graphite at the lower right and marked E.A. at the lower left, designating it as an Artist’s Proof — typically rarer and often more desirable to collectors than standard edition impressions. Measuring approximately 20 × 26 inches, the work is a classic example of Valadié’s gentle, poetic interpretation of childhood scenes, executed with the warm colors and expressive line for which he is internationally known.
Biography of Jean-Baptiste Valadié (b.1933)
Early Life and Training
Jean-Baptiste Valadié was born on 29 December 1933 in Brive-la-Gaillarde, Corrèze, France. A gifted draftsman from an early age, he moved to Paris to pursue professional art studies. He trained at Cours Charpentier in Montparnasse before completing a four-year program at the École des Arts Appliqués, graduating with a diploma in applied art in 1955. During these formative years, he refined his command of line and developed a sensitivity to character and gesture, often drawing portraits at Place du Tertre in Montmartre.
Mediums, Style & Influences
Valadié works across painting, engraving, lithography, tapestry, sculpture, and illustration. His signature style merges romantic figuration with soft-edged abstraction, frequently employing a palette of Mediterranean golds, ambers, roses, and aquas. His subjects—women, children, lovers, and family groups—reflect his fascination with emotional bonds, intimacy, and the poetic dimensions of everyday life. A self-described dreamer, Valadié approaches art as an expression of imagination and sensuality, often creating atmospheres that feel suspended between reality and dream.
Career, Exhibitions & Recognition
Beginning in the 1950s, Valadié exhibited extensively throughout France, Africa, Europe, and beyond. His solo exhibitions include shows in Dakar, Paris, Zurich, Sydney, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Cannes, New York (Mitch Morse Gallery), and New Orleans. He also participated in numerous School of Paris exhibitions alongside major mid-century French artists.
By the 1960s and 1970s, Valadié had become an internationally collected figure, with exhibitions in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Japan, Scandinavia, and Belgium. His early awards include the Prix de la Jeune Peinture, Prix Cézanne, and significant honors at salons in Algiers and Paris. His work was acquired by the Musée Pédagogique in Paris, and he later produced a fresco for the Chapel of Salins de Giraud in the Camargue.
Connection to the Artwork
The present lithograph resonates strongly with Valadié’s recurring focus on children—especially scenes of Spanish and Mediterranean youth, whose uninhibited gestures and sense of wonder embody his belief that art should express beauty, tenderness, and poetic human experience. The glowing palette, gentle line, and floating bubbles echo Valadié’s deeply romantic worldview.
Jean-Baptiste Valadié (French, b.1933), Untitled (Children with Bubbles), c.1960s, color lithograph, 20×26 in., pencil-signed and marked E.A. A luminous, playful composition of three children blowing bubbles, rendered in Valadié’s celebrated warm palette and lyrical linework. Provenance: Mitch Morse Gallery; Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC.
Certificate of Value & Authentication
Artist: Jean-Baptiste Valadié (French, b.1933)
Title: Untitled (Children with Bubbles)
Date: c.1960s–1970s
Medium: Color lithograph on paper
Dimensions: 20 × 26 inches (approx.)
Edition: E.A. (Épreuve d’Artiste / Artist’s Proof)
Signature: Hand-signed “Valadié” in graphite at lower right; marked E.A. at lower left
Condition: Very good vintage condition with typical age-related handling characteristics
Authenticity:
– Signature and E.A. inscription consistent with Valadié’s known artist proofs
– Technique and palette consistent with his lithographs of the period
– Clear, verifiable provenance through Mitch Morse Gallery to Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC
This document affirms that the work is a genuine, hand-signed Artist’s Proof lithograph by Jean-Baptiste Valadié.
Provenance Chain (Collector-Formatted)
• Jean-Baptiste Valadié (b.1933) – artist
• Mitch Morse Gallery, New York, NY – acquired directly from artist or publisher
• Private acquisition via Mitch Morse Gallery
• Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC – current owner
Untitled (Children with Bubbles), Jean-Baptiste Valadié (b.1933), c.1960s color lithograph, 20×26 in, pencil-signed, edition E.A. (Épreuve d’Artiste).
A charming and luminous Épreuve d’Artiste (Artist’s Proof) lithograph by French painter and printmaker Jean-Baptiste Valadié, this vibrant 20×26 in. work depicts children blowing bubbles in Valadié’s signature blend of lyrical linework and radiant Mediterranean color. Signed by the artist and printed as an E.A. proof, it captures the innocence, poetry, and dreamlike warmth that have made Valadié a favorite among collectors worldwide.
Artwork Description
This captivating color lithograph presents three children engaged in blowing bubbles — a quintessential Valadié theme celebrating innocence, imagination, and the ephemeral joy of childhood. The composition is anchored by expressive linework: thin, calligraphic strokes outline each child’s figure, while gestural sweeps of bright yellow, terracotta, turquoise, and soft green build a glowing, playful environment.
Valadié’s lithographic technique combines precision drawing with atmospheric abstraction. Areas of the image dissolve into textured washes and mottled fields of color, reminiscent of airbrushed pigment, spatter, or sponge effects. This layered surface creates a feeling of movement, echoing the drifting bubbles rising through the scene.
The three children form a gentle triad: the left figure gazes out at the viewer, the central child lifts an arm in mid-motion, and the right figure leans quietly into the act of blowing a bubble. The poses feel spontaneous yet harmonious, suggesting both individual character and collective play. Their presence is tender, nostalgic, and infused with the dreamlike aesthetic so closely associated with Valadié’s mid-century works.
The print is signed “Valadié” in graphite at the lower right and marked E.A. at the lower left, designating it as an Artist’s Proof — typically rarer and often more desirable to collectors than standard edition impressions. Measuring approximately 20 × 26 inches, the work is a classic example of Valadié’s gentle, poetic interpretation of childhood scenes, executed with the warm colors and expressive line for which he is internationally known.
Biography of Jean-Baptiste Valadié (b.1933)
Early Life and Training
Jean-Baptiste Valadié was born on 29 December 1933 in Brive-la-Gaillarde, Corrèze, France. A gifted draftsman from an early age, he moved to Paris to pursue professional art studies. He trained at Cours Charpentier in Montparnasse before completing a four-year program at the École des Arts Appliqués, graduating with a diploma in applied art in 1955. During these formative years, he refined his command of line and developed a sensitivity to character and gesture, often drawing portraits at Place du Tertre in Montmartre.
Mediums, Style & Influences
Valadié works across painting, engraving, lithography, tapestry, sculpture, and illustration. His signature style merges romantic figuration with soft-edged abstraction, frequently employing a palette of Mediterranean golds, ambers, roses, and aquas. His subjects—women, children, lovers, and family groups—reflect his fascination with emotional bonds, intimacy, and the poetic dimensions of everyday life. A self-described dreamer, Valadié approaches art as an expression of imagination and sensuality, often creating atmospheres that feel suspended between reality and dream.
Career, Exhibitions & Recognition
Beginning in the 1950s, Valadié exhibited extensively throughout France, Africa, Europe, and beyond. His solo exhibitions include shows in Dakar, Paris, Zurich, Sydney, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Cannes, New York (Mitch Morse Gallery), and New Orleans. He also participated in numerous School of Paris exhibitions alongside major mid-century French artists.
By the 1960s and 1970s, Valadié had become an internationally collected figure, with exhibitions in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Japan, Scandinavia, and Belgium. His early awards include the Prix de la Jeune Peinture, Prix Cézanne, and significant honors at salons in Algiers and Paris. His work was acquired by the Musée Pédagogique in Paris, and he later produced a fresco for the Chapel of Salins de Giraud in the Camargue.
Connection to the Artwork
The present lithograph resonates strongly with Valadié’s recurring focus on children—especially scenes of Spanish and Mediterranean youth, whose uninhibited gestures and sense of wonder embody his belief that art should express beauty, tenderness, and poetic human experience. The glowing palette, gentle line, and floating bubbles echo Valadié’s deeply romantic worldview.
Jean-Baptiste Valadié (French, b.1933), Untitled (Children with Bubbles), c.1960s, color lithograph, 20×26 in., pencil-signed and marked E.A. A luminous, playful composition of three children blowing bubbles, rendered in Valadié’s celebrated warm palette and lyrical linework. Provenance: Mitch Morse Gallery; Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC.
Certificate of Value & Authentication
Artist: Jean-Baptiste Valadié (French, b.1933)
Title: Untitled (Children with Bubbles)
Date: c.1960s–1970s
Medium: Color lithograph on paper
Dimensions: 20 × 26 inches (approx.)
Edition: E.A. (Épreuve d’Artiste / Artist’s Proof)
Signature: Hand-signed “Valadié” in graphite at lower right; marked E.A. at lower left
Condition: Very good vintage condition with typical age-related handling characteristics
Authenticity:
– Signature and E.A. inscription consistent with Valadié’s known artist proofs
– Technique and palette consistent with his lithographs of the period
– Clear, verifiable provenance through Mitch Morse Gallery to Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC
This document affirms that the work is a genuine, hand-signed Artist’s Proof lithograph by Jean-Baptiste Valadié.
Provenance Chain (Collector-Formatted)
• Jean-Baptiste Valadié (b.1933) – artist
• Mitch Morse Gallery, New York, NY – acquired directly from artist or publisher
• Private acquisition via Mitch Morse Gallery
• Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC – current owner
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