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In a non smoking house comes this very unique piece that I know someone would love to have. It’s a signed litho by Art Spiegelman that was part of a 4 part series. This is one of the pieces and only 75 were made as this is number 53 of the print that was produced in SoHo NY. I am hoping I can find someone out there that would appreciate this piece as much as I do. Great piece to have. Pm me if you have any questions or concerns as what you see in these pictures is what you’re going to get. NO RETURNS. Once you purchase this piece it is a FINAL SALE. Truly the coolest piece I have come across.
Origin and the "4 Mice" Portfolio.
This print was created in 1992 as part of a rare, specialized portfolio titled 4 Mice.
The Concept: Following the critical acclaim of Maus, Art Spiegelman produced four thematic lithographs exploring different perspectives of mice, anthropomorphism, and cartoon history.
Individual Titles: The four pieces contained within the portfolio are titled "Mause + mouse" (your piece), "Cat + Maus", "Mickey, Maus + mouse", and "Nadja, Mickey + Mause".
Production & Printing Technique
The Studio: The work was printed by Corridor Press, a renowned fine-art lithography studio that operated out of the SoHo neighborhood in New York City. The small emblem you can see embossed on the bottom left corner of the white border is the printer's chop mark, which guarantees the technical authenticity of the workshop studio production.
The Paper: Spiegelman utilized premium, heavy-weight B.F.K. Rives paper, a traditional French printmaking paper known for its soft texture and durability, using a three-color lithographic layering technique.
Visual Analysis & Symbolism
The image, titled Mause + mouse, is a poignant visual commentary layered with historical and allegorical tension:
The Figures: Two anthropomorphic mice dressed in heavy trench coats and fedoras look down toward the ground. The figure on the right prominently displays a six-pointed star badge on his coat chest—the profound, central visual symbol utilized in Maus to depict the Jewish population during the Holocaust.
The Contrast: They are staring directly at an ordinary, realistic four-legged rat crawling at their feet.
The Metaphor: By juxtaposing his stylized "Maus" characters with a literal sewer rat, Spiegelman plays on the terrifying propaganda of dehumanization. It emphasizes the stark, tragic contrast between the metaphorical animal identities forced upon people during the Holocaust and a natural animal.
Museum Recognition
The importance of this portfolio is well-documented in the museum world. Identical impressions from the 4 Mice collection are part of the permanent archives at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum (located at Ohio State University). The university formally showcased these exact prints in their major historical exhibition, "Substance and Shadow: The Art of the Cartoon".
