Arman - Carnaval de Nice - signed and numbered lithography

A graphic tribute from Arman to his hometown

Here is a magnificent original lithography by Arman (1928-2005) celebrating the festivities of his hometown. It was published in 1990 by the Comité des fêtes de la ville de Nice (Nice Festival Committee) and is part of the portfolio "Nice, Carnaval roi du rire" (Nice, Carnival King of Laughter).

A founding pillar of New Realism (Nouveau Réalisme), the artist here reinterprets one of his most emblematic visual signatures: the accumulation of paint tubes. Against a deep matte black background, the gouache tubes burst forth, their drips spelling out the words "Carnaval de Nice", while the lower section explodes into a mouth of colored tubes.

This lithography, printed on a beautiful vellum paper with deckled edges, comes from a limited edition of 350 copies, justified on the bottom left (72/350) and signed in pencil by Arman's own hand on the bottom right. A playful and joyful work!

Technical Specifications

• Artist: Armand FERNANDEZ, known as ARMAN (1928-2005)

• Title: Carnaval de Nice

• Medium: Original lithography on heavy art paper

• Edition: Limited to 350 copies. Numbered 72/350 on the bottom left

• Signature: Signed in pencil by the artist's hand on the bottom right

• Dimensions: H 74 x W 54 cm

The Eye of Studio Cinquante

This piece beautifully synthesizes the spirit of New Realism as theorized by Pierre Restany. Arman seizes the paint tube—the artist's everyday tool—to make it his very own material. The composition is structured around an ingenious anthropomorphic play: an accumulation of crushed red tubes surmounts a row of white drips that outlines a huge open mouth, at once grimacing, grotesque, and carnivalesque. It is theatrical, joyful, and slightly gritty...

Decor advice: This 74x54 cm piece offers superb staging freedom. To respect the spirit of Studio Cinquante, we recommend a float framing (to let the deckled edges of the art paper show through) in a very thin matte black aluminum or dark oak frame. Place it on a light-colored wall or opposite a light source to bring out the striking contrast of its black background.

Condition Report

The artwork is in an excellent state of conservation. The colors have remained extremely fresh and vibrant, with no sun fading. The paper is healthy, with no foxing or creases.

Shipping Note

Shipped unframed. The artwork is carefully protected by tissue paper and rolled in a reinforced shipping tube.