Bonhams
Lot 6
PABLO PICASSO (1881-1973)Jeune Sculpteur au travail, from La Suite Vollard, 1933 signed in penciletching, on Montval laid paper with Vollard watermark44.5 x 34cm (17 1/2 x 13 3/8in).This work is from the edition of 260, printed by Lacourière, published by Ambroise Vollard, ParisFootnotes:LiteratureGeorges Bloch, Catalogue de l'oeuvre gravé et lithographié, Volume I, 1904-1967, Berne, 1968 (Bl.156). Geiser & Baer, Picasso Peintre-graveur, Catalogue raisonné de l'oeuvre gravé, Volume II, 1932-1934, Berne, 1992 (B.309.B.d).The Suite Vollard is regarded as one of Picassos' greatest printmakingachievements. It was commissioned by, and named in honour of,Ambroise Vollard, one of the most influential art dealers of the late19th and early 20th centuries, who had given the young Picasso hisfirst exhibition in Paris in 1901 and would play a fundamental rolein the artist's career. Their close association meant that no formalcontract was drawn up for the suite. Instead, Vollard agreed to givePicasso two paintings by Renoir and Cézanne in exchange for thecopperplates.The suite is composed of 100 etchings executed between 1930 and1937. Vollard may have been proposing to publish the collection as abook, which would explain the large edition size of 50 on large paperand 260 on small paper. Rather than illustrating one subject, Picassoexplored several themes of particular interest to him: the sculptor'sstudio, the battle of love, Rembrandt, the Minotaur and the blindMinotaur. There were also three portraits of Vollard.The auction contains both signed and unsigned impressions. Theplan was for the whole edition to be signed by Picasso, but this taskwas never completed, due mainly to the untimely death of AmbroiseVollard in a car crash in July 1939. At this point, Picasso had onlysigned a few impressions. The Parisian art dealer, Henri Petiet,purchased the prints and took on the task of publishing the editionand Picasso agreed to sign one complete set of the suite. Petietbegan sending Picasso packages containing 100 or 200 prints at atime for him to sign, paying the artist 100 francs per signature, buteventually Picasso abandoned the practice and it is not recordedexactly how many impressions were signed.The series was a tour de force, exploring the themes of artisticcreativity, ambition, sexuality and obsession through classical andmythological references. The extended period of execution meantthat events in Picasso's personal life and concerns arising from worldevents, such as the rise in fascism and the outbreak of civil war inSpain, were absorbed into the creation of the etchings, so it can beviewed as an autobiographical work, with a historical and politicalresonance.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: * AR* VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium.AR Goods subject to Artists Resale Right Additional Premium.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
