Art

Edition of 50. Signed in pencil lower right by Picasso, numbered lower left. Printed by Arnéra, Vallauris. This linocut is one of a series of radical reinterpretations of Manet's famous painting, begun by Picasso in June 1954 and continued over the next decade. By this late stage, the "Conversationalist" has lost his hair, has clearly aged, and now resembles Picasso himself, in conversation with a Victorine who could be said to resemble his wife, Jacqueline. Linocut from one block printed in black, brown and beige on Arches watermarked paper, lower edge untrimmed. Image size 35 x 27 cm. Sheet size 62.5 x 44.1 cm. Light creasing to upper margin, lower margin folded and then expertly reinforced with Japanese paper, not affecting the image. Presented in a black gesso and gold leaf frame with conservation acrylic glazing.