Eurydice Piquée par un Serpent. Eurydice Stung by a Serpent by Pablo Picasso, 1881-1973

Pablo Picasso, 1881-1973
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Eurydice Piquée par un Serpent. Eurydice Stung by a Serpent

Original etching printed in bistre (red-brown) ink. 1930. Exceptionally rare proof, before steel-facing. With the remarque (margin sketch) of a single head (before the multiple heads) and printed in black ink. One of only c.5 known proofs before steel -face (4 recorded by Baer all unsigned as here). Proof before any edition for the series: Ovid - Les Metamorphoses. Issued edition of 145 impressions
Ref: Geiser- Baer: Picasso Peintre-Graveur no 162 iia of iii (with a single head 'remarque and pre-rounded plate corners)

Superb impression in bistre ink for the main image & black for the 'remarque'. On cream velin d'Arches paper. Excellent original unrestored condition (some old mount tape verso).
Full margins. Sheet: 13 3/8 x 10 1/8ins. Plate:312x223mm

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An extremely rare proof before the edition, with the image inked in bistre (red-brown) and the margin sketch (remarque) of only one head inked in black. Before the steel-facing of the plate. One of perhaps 4 to 6 proofs printed at Fort's studio before the issued editions (in which the plate has a margin sketch of multiple heads). Possibly originally part of the original 'model or maquette set' for the Metamorphosis, which was subsequently divided-up.

Note: Baer in her catalogue records just 4 known such proofs with only the single figure margin sketch. However in her introduction she states that not all the proofs from the 'supplementary printings' have been traced. She records 18 that are known, all of which have the 'multiple remarque'. She also indicates that the original 'maquette' or 'model' set had proofs in both states. It seems probable that this is one of the so-far lost proofs.

See also no: xx opposite, which is a matching proof, and certainly came from the same group of proofs.

The series of etchings which Picasso drew in the Autumn of 1930 on the theme of Ovid's Metamorphosis was a culmination of the art of his classical period. The themes were inspired by the original ancient text but they related to Picasso's obsession at that period with the idea of the 'transformation of form' in women. It was at this time that Picasso set-up an apartment for Marie-Thérèse Walter and the sensual pleasure of their liaison can be felt in the in the superb flow and richness of line in the images of this series, such as 'Eurydice Stung by a Serpent', above.