Headpiece (folio 5) from Le Piège de Méduse (The Ruse of Medusa)

Headpiece (folio 5) from Le Piège de Méduse (The Ruse of Méduse) by Georges Braque is a powerful example of the artist’s commitment to collaborative printmaking during the early 1920s. Created in 1921, this piece is one of three original woodcuts Braque produced for the illustrated book, which features text by the composer Erik Satie. This French collaboration between two titans of the avant-garde highlights a period where artists sought new and integrated ways to connect visual art and literature, moving beyond the strictures of wartime aesthetics.

Braque, already globally recognized as a pioneer of Cubism, expertly translated his characteristic formal language into the high-contrast medium of the woodcut. The resulting print relies on an economy of line and shape, utilizing the stark graphic quality inherent in the technique. The composition features overlapping planes and fragmented forms rendered solely in black ink against the white page, demonstrating Braque’s refined approach to abstraction within graphic arts. This disciplined reliance on shape and shadow showcases his skill in reducing complex subjects to essential, sculptural forms suitable for mass-produced prints.

The Illustrated Book, Le Piège de Méduse, stands as an important document in the history of modernist publication. While the visual language of the headpiece is non-representational, it sets a visual mood and rhythm that complements Satie's satirical text, which often played with mythological tropes. The significance of this specific piece underscores the enduring legacy of Braque in printmaking and his vital role in the cultural life of the French capital during this crucial period. This impression is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), ensuring its permanent study and preservation. As a key work from 1921, high-resolution images of the artwork are often utilized for educational purposes and academic research, increasing its public visibility.