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An exquisite piece of pop art by the great artist, César Baldaccini (French, 1921 - 1998). This piece is entitled "Compressed Plastic" and is a lithograph from an edition of 150 and hand-signed and numbered by the artist.

Baldaccini is considered as perhaps the greatest innovator among modern artists. His work is astonishing in its range, use of varied materials, and originality. César Baldaccini's (1921 - 1998) extraordinary life and career began in the Marseille ghetto of Belle-de-Mai where he and his twin sister were born on January 1, 1921. At age 13 young César left school to work with his father in the wine business. At 15, César's mother encouraged him to enroll in night classes at the local art school, where he rapidly distinguished himself. He soon found himself at the Ecole des Beaus-Arts in Paris. In 1960, he fundamentally altered the course of metal sculpture by inventing the automobile compression. His grand scale human "imprints" represented the first use of plastic as an accepted medium for sculptural expression. In the late 1960's, he again manifested his explosive innovativeness when he first came upon the expressive potentialities of polyurethane frames, which were richly fulfilled in his ebullient expansions. Cesar's expressive junk sculpture, his distinctive crystal sculptures, his plaques (Bas Reliefs) his envahissements (objects covered with plastic or metal), and his successful jewelry compressions further demonstrate his impressive virtuosity and versatility.