Own an exceptional and rare hand-signed 1961 Pablo Picasso lithograph, featuring one of the most iconic images of peace in all of 20th century art. A must-have for collectors, this is an artwork of tremendous historical significance and pedigree. Signed and numbered from the edition of 200 on Arches paper, Colombe de la Paix is truly a museum-quality piece. It offers a rare opportunity for collectors seeking a piece of exceptional historical importance. A true gem of modern art and a highlight in any art collection.

The Story Behind Picasso’s Dove of Peace

Picasso had long cultivated an apolitical attitude towards world events. His dealer Daniel-Henry Kahnweiler declared him the "most apolitical man" he had ever met. The advent of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 had a profound effect on his outlook, and he began to follow political developments closely. His experiences in occupied Paris during the Second World War only strengthened this resolve, and through his art he become a worldwide symbol for anti-fascism and peace.

In January 1949 Picasso created a black and white lithograph of a Milanese pigeon that had been gifted to him by Henri Matisse. On a visit to Picasso's studio, the poet Louis Aragon selected the image to illustrate the poster of the 1949 Paris Peace Congress. The day before the Congress opened, Picasso's partner Françoise Gilot gave birth to their second child, a daughter who would be named Paloma, the Spanish word for dove.

Over the following decades, Picasso would go on to create additional variations of the image for Peace Congresses in Stockholm, Sheffield, Vienna, Rome, Wrocław and Moscow. This version was created to accompany a poster for a conference in Issy-les-Moulineaux, held in May 1962. It is one of 200 hand-signed copies without text on Arches paper (there were also 30 printed on Japon paper).

A Must-Have for Collectors of Picasso

This is a rare, museum-quality lithograph, one of the defining images of peace in the 20th century and a classic of Picasso's anti-war art. Hand-signed in pencil by Picasso, it boasts exceptional historical significance and tremendous beauty.

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