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3659
PABLO PICASSO
(Málaga 1881 - 1973 Mougins)
Danaé. 1962.
Colour linocut. 29/50. Signed lower right:
Picasso, also mirror dated in the stone
upper and lower left: 25.2.62 and 25.1.62.
Image 27 x 35 cm on vélin by Arches (with
the trimmed watermark) 44.8 x 63 cm.
Published by galerie Louise Leiris. Printed
by Arnéra.
Catalogue raisonné:
- Bloch, no. 1084.
- Baer, no. 1286, 4th state, Ba.
In his works, Pablo Picasso turned repea-
tedly to Greek mythology. In the „Suite
Vollard“ from the 1930s, the Minotaur
appears, the Faun is a recurring motif –
also in the ceramics - , the Bacchanal is
featured in numerous linocuts, and in the
present work he takes on the story of
„Danae“, who was tempted by Zeus in the
form of a shower of gold. In a total of four
states, Picasso experimented with various
types of colouring, which give each sheet
its particular expression, so that the pre-
sent fourth state impresses with its most
sophisticated colouring.
Picasso‘s preeminent skill in the field of
printing culminates in his superior and yet
bold handling of forgotten printing tech-
niques. So states Felix Brunner: „Not so
long ago a publisher would have been hard
pushed to show a compelling example of a
linocut. Now Pablo Picasso has produced
an entire series of fine, multi-coloured
linocuts.“ (Brunner, Felix: Handbuch
der Druckgraphik, Teufen 1964, p. 50).
Linocuts, within the field of colour printing
techniques, have the great advantage that
the artist does not need different plates
for different colours (as would be the case
for example with colour woodcuts), but
works with just one plate, which is altered
with each stage of printing. To begin with,
a light rectangle is printed using the uncut,
inked lino plate; then it is cut and printed
with a somewhat darker colour. This pro-
cess is repeated until the definitive work
is produced. „The genius of being limited
to one plate, means that he prevents the
image from disintegrating into its individual
colours, and at the same time avoids the
forms being copied.“ (ibid, p. 311).
CHF 20 000 / 30 000
(€ 18 520 / 27 780)
| 40
Prints & Multiples