Pablo Picasso
Portrait Imaginaire 14/3/69 I, 1969
Signed and dated in plate
Lithograph in colours
Sheet: 65 x 49 cm
Framed: 82 x 68 cm
Framed: 82 x 68 cm
Proof aside from the edition of 250
One of the very last print suites that Picasso ever published, the Portraits Imaginaires are the culmination of eight decades of restless innovation. Picasso’s final years were spent in a...
One of the very last print suites that Picasso ever published, the Portraits Imaginaires are the culmination of eight decades of restless innovation.
Picasso’s final years were spent in a creative frenzy. In 1969 a large delivery of art materials arrived at his Mougins studio and became fuel for his next furious cycle of production. He was not content to use the new inks, paints, and brushes alone. Everything – from the hairy string and thick paper wrapping of each parcel to the corrugated cardboard boxes in which they had arrived – suggested a potential surface for experimentation, and he quickly set to work painting a series of twenty-nine imaginary portraits.
Produced in oils and gouache applied directly to the unprepared boxes and paper sheets, these bizarre portraits feature the moustachioed musketeers that dominate his final works, alongside depictions of Balzac, Shakespeare, and aggressively abstracted female faces.
These portraits channel the directness and vitality of Rembrandt, his love of costume and the power of the subject’s gaze, and in doing so they announced to the world that Picasso was the reigning modern-day master.
The artist was so delighted with the results of his experiment that he sought out a printmaker to reproduce them as a suite of lithographs, a search that led him to Marcel Salinas.
Two trial proofs were demanded of Salinas before work on the suite was begun. They were of such impressive quality that Picasso offered Salinas top billing alongside his own name upon publication, the only printer to earn such an honour. Under the close supervision of the artist each portrait was reproduced by hand, drawn directly onto the lithographic plate before being printed for inspection.
Picasso offered his corrections and alterations before approving the prints for publication. The entire process took over a year to complete. Once published, each lithographic plate was destroyed and the two editions of 250 each – labelled ‘F’ for the French market and ‘A’ for America and the rest of the world – were hand-numbered ready for distribution.
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Any questions? We are happy to help. Call: 0117 279 6402 or send us a message now.
Framing - This piece has been framed by an experienced in-house framing team to conservation standards. This is included in the price. We use archival materials and 99% anti UV glass to ensure the long-term safety and stability of the artwork. All frames are bespoke, taking into account the precise needs of each piece in terms of preservation and presentation. Click here for more information.
Interest-Free Payment Plan - At Hidden, we believe art should be accessible. Therefore, we have interest-free instalment plans where our customers can spread the cost of their artwork over 12 months. To take the work off the market, we require a 20% deposit. Then, the rest is paid off in equal, monthly instalments. During this period, Hidden will look after your artwork. For more information, please get in touch.
Home Approvals - Want to see the artwork in situ? There is a lot to consider when buying art: artist, subject, age, provenance, budget, and we can only apologise for making it more difficult by having such fantastic works to choose from. To compensate, we’re delighted to be able to offer you a home approval if you live close to one of our Hidden cities. Click here for more information, or feel free to get in touch.
Worldwide Delivery - We offer free collection from any one of our galleries. Alternatively, we ship worldwide using a fully insured specialist art courier to ensure your new purchase reaches you without any fuss or stress. Please contact us for a quote or visit our Shipping FAQs for more information.
Hidden focuses on sought after, limited edition prints by the most illustrious artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. Click here to view more work from our collection.
**Hidden is compliant with Anti Money Laundering regulations and registered with HMRC in accordance with 5AMLD. This means that should you wish to purchase work/s for the sterling equivalent of 10,000 Euros or over, we will ask you for some additional verification for anti-money laundering purposes.**
Picasso’s final years were spent in a creative frenzy. In 1969 a large delivery of art materials arrived at his Mougins studio and became fuel for his next furious cycle of production. He was not content to use the new inks, paints, and brushes alone. Everything – from the hairy string and thick paper wrapping of each parcel to the corrugated cardboard boxes in which they had arrived – suggested a potential surface for experimentation, and he quickly set to work painting a series of twenty-nine imaginary portraits.
Produced in oils and gouache applied directly to the unprepared boxes and paper sheets, these bizarre portraits feature the moustachioed musketeers that dominate his final works, alongside depictions of Balzac, Shakespeare, and aggressively abstracted female faces.
These portraits channel the directness and vitality of Rembrandt, his love of costume and the power of the subject’s gaze, and in doing so they announced to the world that Picasso was the reigning modern-day master.
The artist was so delighted with the results of his experiment that he sought out a printmaker to reproduce them as a suite of lithographs, a search that led him to Marcel Salinas.
Two trial proofs were demanded of Salinas before work on the suite was begun. They were of such impressive quality that Picasso offered Salinas top billing alongside his own name upon publication, the only printer to earn such an honour. Under the close supervision of the artist each portrait was reproduced by hand, drawn directly onto the lithographic plate before being printed for inspection.
Picasso offered his corrections and alterations before approving the prints for publication. The entire process took over a year to complete. Once published, each lithographic plate was destroyed and the two editions of 250 each – labelled ‘F’ for the French market and ‘A’ for America and the rest of the world – were hand-numbered ready for distribution.
For more information on buying art for investment, please click here.
Any questions? We are happy to help. Call: 0117 279 6402 or send us a message now.
Framing - This piece has been framed by an experienced in-house framing team to conservation standards. This is included in the price. We use archival materials and 99% anti UV glass to ensure the long-term safety and stability of the artwork. All frames are bespoke, taking into account the precise needs of each piece in terms of preservation and presentation. Click here for more information.
Interest-Free Payment Plan - At Hidden, we believe art should be accessible. Therefore, we have interest-free instalment plans where our customers can spread the cost of their artwork over 12 months. To take the work off the market, we require a 20% deposit. Then, the rest is paid off in equal, monthly instalments. During this period, Hidden will look after your artwork. For more information, please get in touch.
Home Approvals - Want to see the artwork in situ? There is a lot to consider when buying art: artist, subject, age, provenance, budget, and we can only apologise for making it more difficult by having such fantastic works to choose from. To compensate, we’re delighted to be able to offer you a home approval if you live close to one of our Hidden cities. Click here for more information, or feel free to get in touch.
Worldwide Delivery - We offer free collection from any one of our galleries. Alternatively, we ship worldwide using a fully insured specialist art courier to ensure your new purchase reaches you without any fuss or stress. Please contact us for a quote or visit our Shipping FAQs for more information.
Hidden focuses on sought after, limited edition prints by the most illustrious artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. Click here to view more work from our collection.
**Hidden is compliant with Anti Money Laundering regulations and registered with HMRC in accordance with 5AMLD. This means that should you wish to purchase work/s for the sterling equivalent of 10,000 Euros or over, we will ask you for some additional verification for anti-money laundering purposes.**
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