Lyre, Pla Domenech (b. 1917), c.1965, color lithograph on paper, 22 x 30 in., pencil signed and numbered 150/300
A luminous mid-century color lithograph by Pla Domenech titled Lyre, depicting a contemplative female harpist surrounded by vibrant florals. Pencil signed and numbered 150/300, this 22 x 30 inch limited edition print exemplifies Domenech’s mastery of light effects, Catalan Romanesque influence, and richly textured color fields. A poetic, museum-quality work sourced from Mitch Morse Gallery.
Artwork Description
Lyre is an original color lithograph by Pla Domenech, issued in a limited edition of 300 impressions and pencil signed by the artist lower right, numbered 150/300 lower left. Measuring 22 x 30 inches, the composition reflects the hallmarks of mid-20th-century European figurative modernism infused with Catalan historicism.
The subject depicts a seated female musician in profile, gently touching the strings of a lyre or harp. Her elongated neck and stylized facial features echo the influence of 9th and 12th century Catalan Romanesque frescoes referenced in the artist’s biography. Circular curving lines, flattened spatial depth, and luminescent tonal layering reinforce that connection. The tawny, glowing palette—burnished reds, saffron yellows, olive greens, and deep lapis blues—creates a rich atmospheric field behind the musician, where roses bloom in a dense tapestry of color.
The surface characteristics visible in the close-up images confirm this work as a color lithograph rather than a serigraph. The subtle tonal gradations, layered painterly textures, and the slight plate impression with smooth ink transitions are consistent with traditional stone or plate lithography. The reverse shows typical age toning and transfer shadowing associated with lithographic paper storage over time.
Domenech’s handling of light effects is particularly evident in the glow emanating from behind the instrument’s strings, creating depth and a sense of inner radiance. The patterned blue skirt incorporates ornamental motifs reminiscent of Romanesque fresco fragments, reinforcing his historic dialogue with Catalan sacred art traditions. The female figure becomes both musician and allegory—art as resonance, memory, and cultural continuity.
Artist Biography
Pla Domenech, born in Barcelona in 1917, emerged as one of Spain’s notable postwar painters whose work bridged modernist figuration and Catalan historical revivalism. A graduate of the Fine Arts Academy of Barcelona, he furthered his studies abroad before returning to his native city, which remained both his spiritual and artistic anchor.
Domenech was awarded the Gold Medal at the VI Bienal de la Flor in Pescia, Italy—an international recognition that helped establish his reputation beyond Spain. His stated artistic mission, “Pure art at everybody’s reach,” reflects both his embrace of printmaking and his desire to communicate beyond elite circles.
He represented Spain at the 1960 World’s Fair in New York and exhibited widely across Europe and the United States, including New York, London, Paris, Rome, Barcelona, Madrid, Venice, Chicago, Denver, and Washington. His works entered museum collections such as the Estrada Saladich Museum and the Modern Art Museum in Barcelona, as well as the Civic Museum of Pistoia, Italy. He also received an Honorary Mention from the Art Institute of Chicago.
Group exhibitions throughout the 1950s–1970s included the Hispano-American Biennial Art Show, Salon del Jazz (1954), International Drawing Contests in Barcelona, and an International Homage to Pablo Picasso in Vallauris, France. Private exhibitions were held in Barcelona, Rome, Venice, Florence, Palma de Mallorca, and Denver.
Stylistically, Domenech’s oeuvre reflects the influence of Catalan Romanesque frescoes—particularly in figure construction, arabesque line work, and luminescent coloration. His figures often inhabit dreamlike interiors framed by floral abundance, musical instruments, and symbolic architecture. The integration of religious iconography, floral still life, and contemplative feminine figures positions him within a uniquely Iberian branch of mid-century figurative modernism.
By 2026, Domenech’s lithographs and paintings remain appreciated among collectors of European modernism and Spanish postwar art. His limited edition works, especially musically themed compositions such as Lyre, continue to circulate in gallery and secondary markets, valued for their strong decorative presence and historic exhibition record.
Pla Domenech (b. 1917)
Lyre, c.1965
Color lithograph on paper
22 x 30 inches
Signed lower right; numbered 150/300
Gold Medalist, VI Bienal de la Flor, Pescia, Italy
Certificate of Authentication
This certifies that Lyre is an original color lithograph by Pla Domenech (b. 1917), created circa 1965. The work is pencil signed by the artist and numbered 150/300 from a limited edition of 300 impressions.
Sourced from Mitch Morse Gallery and now held by Artfind Gallery, Washington DC.
Guaranteed authentic.
Condition
Very good vintage condition. Visible age toning to verso and minor edge wear consistent with age. Image area strong and vibrant. No visible tears to image field.
Provenance
Pla Domenech
Mitch Morse Gallery, New York (acquired in NYC and Europe)
Artfind Gallery, Washington DC (current owner)
Lyre, Pla Domenech (b. 1917), c.1965, color lithograph on paper, 22 x 30 in., pencil signed and numbered 150/300
A luminous mid-century color lithograph by Pla Domenech titled Lyre, depicting a contemplative female harpist surrounded by vibrant florals. Pencil signed and numbered 150/300, this 22 x 30 inch limited edition print exemplifies Domenech’s mastery of light effects, Catalan Romanesque influence, and richly textured color fields. A poetic, museum-quality work sourced from Mitch Morse Gallery.
Artwork Description
Lyre is an original color lithograph by Pla Domenech, issued in a limited edition of 300 impressions and pencil signed by the artist lower right, numbered 150/300 lower left. Measuring 22 x 30 inches, the composition reflects the hallmarks of mid-20th-century European figurative modernism infused with Catalan historicism.
The subject depicts a seated female musician in profile, gently touching the strings of a lyre or harp. Her elongated neck and stylized facial features echo the influence of 9th and 12th century Catalan Romanesque frescoes referenced in the artist’s biography. Circular curving lines, flattened spatial depth, and luminescent tonal layering reinforce that connection. The tawny, glowing palette—burnished reds, saffron yellows, olive greens, and deep lapis blues—creates a rich atmospheric field behind the musician, where roses bloom in a dense tapestry of color.
The surface characteristics visible in the close-up images confirm this work as a color lithograph rather than a serigraph. The subtle tonal gradations, layered painterly textures, and the slight plate impression with smooth ink transitions are consistent with traditional stone or plate lithography. The reverse shows typical age toning and transfer shadowing associated with lithographic paper storage over time.
Domenech’s handling of light effects is particularly evident in the glow emanating from behind the instrument’s strings, creating depth and a sense of inner radiance. The patterned blue skirt incorporates ornamental motifs reminiscent of Romanesque fresco fragments, reinforcing his historic dialogue with Catalan sacred art traditions. The female figure becomes both musician and allegory—art as resonance, memory, and cultural continuity.
Artist Biography
Pla Domenech, born in Barcelona in 1917, emerged as one of Spain’s notable postwar painters whose work bridged modernist figuration and Catalan historical revivalism. A graduate of the Fine Arts Academy of Barcelona, he furthered his studies abroad before returning to his native city, which remained both his spiritual and artistic anchor.
Domenech was awarded the Gold Medal at the VI Bienal de la Flor in Pescia, Italy—an international recognition that helped establish his reputation beyond Spain. His stated artistic mission, “Pure art at everybody’s reach,” reflects both his embrace of printmaking and his desire to communicate beyond elite circles.
He represented Spain at the 1960 World’s Fair in New York and exhibited widely across Europe and the United States, including New York, London, Paris, Rome, Barcelona, Madrid, Venice, Chicago, Denver, and Washington. His works entered museum collections such as the Estrada Saladich Museum and the Modern Art Museum in Barcelona, as well as the Civic Museum of Pistoia, Italy. He also received an Honorary Mention from the Art Institute of Chicago.
Group exhibitions throughout the 1950s–1970s included the Hispano-American Biennial Art Show, Salon del Jazz (1954), International Drawing Contests in Barcelona, and an International Homage to Pablo Picasso in Vallauris, France. Private exhibitions were held in Barcelona, Rome, Venice, Florence, Palma de Mallorca, and Denver.
Stylistically, Domenech’s oeuvre reflects the influence of Catalan Romanesque frescoes—particularly in figure construction, arabesque line work, and luminescent coloration. His figures often inhabit dreamlike interiors framed by floral abundance, musical instruments, and symbolic architecture. The integration of religious iconography, floral still life, and contemplative feminine figures positions him within a uniquely Iberian branch of mid-century figurative modernism.
By 2026, Domenech’s lithographs and paintings remain appreciated among collectors of European modernism and Spanish postwar art. His limited edition works, especially musically themed compositions such as Lyre, continue to circulate in gallery and secondary markets, valued for their strong decorative presence and historic exhibition record.
Pla Domenech (b. 1917)
Lyre, c.1965
Color lithograph on paper
22 x 30 inches
Signed lower right; numbered 150/300
Gold Medalist, VI Bienal de la Flor, Pescia, Italy
Certificate of Authentication
This certifies that Lyre is an original color lithograph by Pla Domenech (b. 1917), created circa 1965. The work is pencil signed by the artist and numbered 150/300 from a limited edition of 300 impressions.
Sourced from Mitch Morse Gallery and now held by Artfind Gallery, Washington DC.
Guaranteed authentic.
Condition
Very good vintage condition. Visible age toning to verso and minor edge wear consistent with age. Image area strong and vibrant. No visible tears to image field.
Provenance
Pla Domenech
Mitch Morse Gallery, New York (acquired in NYC and Europe)
Artfind Gallery, Washington DC (current owner)
