Picador II
Pablo Picasso
Picador II
lithograph
March 6, 1961
An original hand-signed Pablo Picasso lithograph print.
March 6, 1961
Original lithograph printed in 24 colors on wove paper.
Hand-signed in pencil in the margin lower right Picasso, dated on the stone lower left 6.3.61.II and 21.4.61.
A superb impression of the definitive state, from the numbered edition of 50, numbered in pencil lower left (apart from the unsigned book edition). Commissioned as one of four illustrations for the book A Los Toros Avec Picasso, text by Jaime Sabartés. Published by André Sauret, Monte-Carlo; printed by Atelier Mourlot, Paris.
Catalog: Bloch 1017; Mourlot 350; Reusse 788; Güse/Rau 714; Picassso Project 350.
Size Image: 8 ¼ x 10 ¼ inches
Sheet Size: 9 3/4 x 13 1/8 inches
“When I visited him at Vauvenargues, on April 21st, I gave to Picasso the four lithos of his work; at the Publisher’s request, I asked our friend, without much hope, if he would agree to put some colours on the plates. The black eyes glanced at me and he said: “Now then! You want some colour, Mourlot . . .” suspense. “Jacqueline, show them up to the house . . .” My wife accompanied me and we then followed our hostess. The monumental staircase leads us to the rooms, here is the bath-room, immense, with a large green painted garden bench, a table and iron chairs; around the washstands a large decoration of leaves and flowers painted on the wall by the master of the house. We continue the visit and finally come back to the studio, where we are invited to come in. “You wanted some colour . . . here it is!” The picador has been decorated with quite a lot of wax pencils. I take a look at the pencil box: twenty-four colors, all have been utilized . . . Back at the printing works, it has been necessary to make a tracing of each colour spot and take the exact tint before transferring this drawing to the stone; it is possible, although difficult, to obtain a good result with these waxen colours substituted for the lithographic crayon. We have succeeded and have thus obtained this lithograph in twenty-four colours, plus the black. I believe that this time, it was our good friend Picasso who was somewhat astonished.” Fernand Mourlot (Picasso’s lithographer)
