Minotaure, Buveur et Femmes. by Pablo Picasso, 1881-1973

Pablo Picasso, 1881-1973
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Minotaure, Buveur et Femmes.

Original etching in black ink. 1933, etched at Boisgeloup. Signed in pencil. Etched as no 60 in the famous series: The Vollard Suite. From the edition of 250 impressions on Montval paper, of which about half were signed. Printed at the studio of Lacourière, Paris 1939. Issued by Ambroise
Vollard, Paris 1939.
Ref: Bloch 200. Geiser-Baer - Picasso Peintre Graveur no 368

Superb sparkling fresh impression. On pale cream laid Montval paper with the Picasso watermark. Superb condition; a trace of old mount tape on the reverse. Full sheet including the deckle edges. Sheet: 13 3/8 x 17 5/8ins. Plate: 11 3/4 x 14 3/8ins.(298x365mm)

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Minotaure, Buveur et Femmes - Minotaur, Drinker and Women - is one of the most beautiful, evocative and expressive subjects in the whole of Picasso?s famous Vollard Suite. The combination of the wonderful rhythmic flow of the descriptive line, the extraordinary variations in the textures and the power of the theme make this a masterpiece in Picasso?s series of Minotaur compositions and underline his position as one of the very greatest creative printmakers not only of the 20th century but of the whole history of the print.

Picasso?s great series of 100 compositions in etching which make up the famous Vollard Suite is divided up into groups of studies on a variety of themes. One of the most important groups is that centred on the concept of the Minotaur. In these works Picasso investigated his ideas about the dual personality of the artist - and in particular of himself as artist. He saw the artist both as creator and as emotional participant - creating a work of art with one part of himself and personally involved in the situation with the other. Thus in this work the artist looks at the pose of the model creating the likeness, and at the same time in the role of Minotaur finds himself attracted to the model while the alter ego of artist and model look on as if from the outside.

It is the complexity and emotional intensity of the ideas within this image, together with the extreme beauty and creative genius of the execution, which makes a work such as this such a masterpiece.