Le Chien. The Dog. by Pablo Picasso, 1881-1973

Pablo Picasso, 1881-1973
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Le Chien. The Dog.

Original aquatint with drypoint and engraving in black ink. 1936. Signed in pencil. One of 5 special proofs on japon nacré paper. Total edition of 226 (mostly unsigned) impressions. Edition issued for the album: Histoire Naturelle - Textes de Buffon. Commissioned by Vollard in 1936, Issued by Fabiani 1942. Printed at the studio of Lacourière, Paris.
Ref: Baer - Picasso Peintre Graveur no. 581
Note: Pencil signed impressions are very rare.

Superb rich proof impression on special pale cream japon- nacré paper. Excellent original condition; not rubbed, trace of old mounting on the reverse. Full sheet as issued (not showing the plate mark, as always). Sheet: 14 3/8 x 11 1/4ins. Plate: 16 3/8 x 12 3/8ins (over sheet size plate, as issued). Size to border approx.: 11 x 8 5/8ins (280x220mm).

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The series of aquatint and drypoint prints that Picasso drew in 1936 on the theme of the 18th century Comte de Buffon?s ?Histoire Naturelle - A Natural History of the World? is one of the great achievements of his early graphic oeuvre. The series was commissioned from him by Vollard in 1936, but it was actually issued by Fabiani in 1942, after Vollard had been killed in a car accident. That the works in this series directly followed the pure classical linearity of the etchings for the ?Chef d?Oeuvre Inconnu? underlines very clearly the amazing and constant invention in Picasso?s art.

Picasso had just learnt the medium of sugar-lift aquatint at Roger Lacourière?s studio and he decided to use it to create the marvellously creative and witty series of animal studies which make up the Buffon series. The brushed aquatint gave him a grey tone, which he then accented with a further aquatint bite in black and fine work in drypoint and engraving. The resultant compositions, as in this study Le Chien, have an extraordinary vitality. They are unique and totally individual works, and masterpieces of creative printmaking.