Pablo Picasso
(Spanish, 1881-1973)
Nature morte sous lampe (Still life under the lamp ) 1962 (B. 1102; Ba. 1313)
linocut printed in colors on Arches wove paper
signed Picasso in pencil and numbered 44/50 to lower margin
25 1/8 x 20 3/4 in (64 x 53cm); sheet 29 1/2 x 24 7/16in (75 x 62cm)
Provenance:
Property from a Private Southern California Collector.

Literature:
G. Bloch, Catalogue de loeuvre grave et lithographie, Volume I, 1904-1967, Berne, 1968 ref. 1102.
Geiser & Baer, Picasso Peintre-graveur, Catalogue raisonne de loeuvre grave, Volume V, 1959-1965, Berne, 1989, ref. 1313.

Footnote:
Nature Morte Sous Lampe is widely considered Picassos masterpiece of color linocut and possibly the most notable of his thousands of forays into print making throughout his life. The composition was constructed in nine stages for the nine colors used, including the white of the paper, The image is conceived, cut, and printed from the same linoleum block allowing the image to grow in complexity with each stage completed. This method later coined image "reduction" method was if not invented by Picasso certainly utilized in this instance with ultimate mastery.

As throughout most of his career, and even into his 80s Picasso seemed to enjoy working late into the night, and wrote, "My lighting at night is wonderful. I even prefer it to daylight. You should come one day to see how the light picks out every object, how deep, black shadows play around the pictures and are thrown against the beams. You can find it in almost every still life. I painted most of them by night.

Framed: 30 1/2 x 25 1/2in. Near fine overall condition. Colors deep and vibrant. General overall age toning at sheet and plate edges. Darkening to verso as per print area. Bold Arches watermark down left margin. Print surface immaculate.