The Blues Of Barcelona 1963 Picasso

Spanish painter, draftsman and sculptor, Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) is generally presented as one of the greatest artists of the 20th century. A ladies' man whose companions will deeply inspire his work, he is with Georges Braque the founder of cubism and one of the pillars of modern art. Author of a rich work of over 20,000 pieces, Pablo Picasso tried his hand, from the 1950s onwards, to all media (lithography, linoleum engraving, ceramics, sculpture, poster and painting) which tackled as many themes as of techniques, revealing an exceptional creative freedom. The Barcelona Blues. Paris, Au vent d'Arles, 1963 correspond to his research. Large (54 x 42 cm), this publisher's box in blue fabric illustrated on the front cover of a color composition by Picasso is presented framed like a painting. This Jacomet print was checked by Picasso himself and was the subject of a limited edition of 540 copies (including 40 HC) A few words about the Jacomet process: In 1910, Daniel Jacomet took over from André Marty, publisher of Toulouse-Lautrec. For 50 years, he will print the greatest artists of modern art, Picasso, Braque, Miró, Chagall, and their most beautiful albums, Les Bleus de Barcelona, Constellations… His sons, André and Pierre, will follow him. Wood engraving such as it is practiced there, reconnects with artisanal know-how dating back to the fifteenth century. It requires long hours of work and great skill to stay true to the artist's work. The coloring is carried out according to the famous Jacomet process invented in the early 1930s. With dexterity and sensitivity, Jean-Marie Picard hollows out the matrix, sparing the drawing, leaving intact the original line which remains in relief. The ink will be deposited on this relief and not in the hollows, which is why we speak of relief printing. The workshop creates compositions combining engraved wood and the charm of text composed in movable characters. Posters, invitations, labels… Each printed medium thus becomes a unique piece. In a thin sheet of zinc are cut openings previously traced according to the design and the color to be reproduced. The resulting stencil is applied to the proof for printing. After determining the range of values for each color, the location and shape of the passages, coloring is carried out using a special round brush. The operation will be repeated as many times as there are colors. The dies are in Savoy pear wood veneered on a Finnish birch core. The fine and tight grain of the pear tree and its very homogeneous structure allow a great delicacy of restitution of the drawing.