Description:This delightful and hilarious look into the character of this portrait reveals the comradery and friendship that Picasso had with the model. Inspired in part by friend Edouard Pignon as well as the novel, Notre Dame de Vie, this lovely caricature is full of energy and excitement.
Created in February 16, 1966 for writer Hélène Parmeline’s novel, Notre Dame de Vie, Picasso created a series of linocuts to illustrate this work published in 1966. Printed by Arnéra, Vallauris, this piece is numbered 44/150 in pencil in the lower right margin as well as hand-signed in pencil by the artist.
Picasso also seemingly drew inspiration from Parmeline’s husband, Edouard Pignon from who this piece draws a striking resemblance. He had grown to be very fond of the couple, becoming close friends and confidants from the early ‘50s and onwards. Expressive eyebrows, defined cheekbones, and a sly grin suggest this humorous rendition was an intimate and amusing homage to Picasso’s friendship with Pignon and Parmeline. Its incredible detail and animated features bring the same liveliness and energy that the subject must have brought to Picasso’s own life.
Catalogue Raisonné & COA:
It is fully documented and referenced in the below catalogue raisonnés and texts (copies will be enclosed as added documentation with the invoices that will accompany the final sale of the work) :
1. Baer, Brigitte. Picasso Peintre-Graveur, Catalogue Raisonné de l’œuvre grave et des monotypes, Tome VI, Zurich, 1994. Listed and illustrated as cat. no. 1848B on pg. 586.
2. Bloch, Georges. Pablo Picasso, Volume I: Catalogue of the Printed Graphic Work 1904 – 1967, Berne, 1984. Listed and illustrated as cat. no. 1230 on pg. 1234.
3. Cramer, Patrick et al. Pablo Picasso The Illustrated Books: Catalogue Raisonné, Geneva, 1983. Listed and illustrated as cat. no. 134.
4. The Mr. & Mrs. Charles Kramer Collection in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Picasso: Linoleum Cuts, New York, 1985. Listed and illustrated as cat. no. 108 on pg. 106.
5. Verlag, Gerd, and Hatje for the Kunstmuseum Basel / Bonn. Pablo Picasso Die illustrierten Bücher, 1996. Listed and illustrated as cat. no. 134 on pgs. 166-7.
About the Framing:
Conservation framed with museum-quality, archival materials, this work is set in a gold, stepped frame with linear moulding and black accents. The detailed engraving and line elements echo Picasso’s work in Portrait d’Homme, allowing it to serve as a complimentary feature to the piece. Completed with white, linen-wrapped mats and a matching gold inner fillet, this work is set behind an archival Plexiglas cover.
