Jacques Villon - "Portrait of Paul Valéry" and "Virgilius Maro" (1955) Medium: Two lithographs in colors on the same sheet of pearly Japan paper. Dimensions (sight): 36.5 x 55 cm Catalogue reference : Ginestet-Pouillon E 555 and E 557 Condition: Excellent. Signed These rare lithographs, created by Jacques Villon, were published in the limited edition of Paul Valéry's book "Les Bucoliques." They reflect Villon’s innovative style, combining geometric abstraction with expressive line work. The left lithograph portrays the French poet and philosopher Paul Valéry in a striking Cubist-inspired manner, while the right lithograph interprets Virgil, the celebrated Roman poet. Jacques Villon (1875–1963), born Gaston Émile Duchamp, was a pivotal figure in modern art and a pioneer in printmaking. He was the elder brother of Marcel Duchamp, the revolutionary artist behind "Fountain," and closely associated with major 20th-century artistic movements. Villon's contributions to Cubism and modernism align him with contemporaries such as Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, Juan Gris, Fernand Léger, and Robert Delaunay. His influence extended into the circles of artists like Francis Picabia, Jean Metzinger, Albert Gleizes, and André Lhote, all proponents of Cubism and abstract art. Beyond Cubism, Villon shared affinities with major figures of modern art, including Henri Matisse, Amedeo Modigliani, Piet Mondrian, and Wassily Kandinsky. His experiments in color and form parallel the innovations of Sonia Delaunay, Kasimir Malevich, and Paul Klee. Villon was deeply connected to the avant-garde, working in the shadow of movements inspired by Vincent van Gogh, Paul Cézanne, and Georges Seurat, while influencing later masters like Joan Miró, Salvador Dalí, and René Magritte. He also contributed to the dissemination of printmaking techniques, alongside artists like Edvard Munch, Marc Chagall, and Käthe Kollwitz. Villon's legacy is inseparable from this constellation of greats, marking him as one of the defining figures of early 20th-century art. Paul Valéry (1871–1945) was a renowned French poet, essayist, and philosopher, celebrated for his profound reflections on art, literature, and human consciousness. A leading figure in 20th-century intellectual circles, Valéry shared connections with literary giants such as André Gide, Stéphane Mallarmé, Marcel Proust, and Rainer Maria Rilke.