Pablo Picasso (1881–1973)
Le Déjeuner sur l’Herbe (Les Déjeuners), 27 janvier 1962
Original lithograph in black on Vélin d’Arches, hand-signed in pencil lower right and inscribed E.A. lower left. Printed by Mourlot, Paris, and published by Éditions Cercle d’Art the same year for the deluxe edition of Les Déjeuners. Catalogue references: Cramer Books 118, Bloch 1024, Mourlot 352, Orozco 211, Reuß 826. Paper size 27.1 × 36.8 cm. This impression belongs to the extremely rare group of épreuves d’artiste printed on Arches paper outside the official edition of 150 numbered and signed copies (125 + 25 H.C.). According to Reuß, “only a few E.A. were printed on Arches paper of 27.1 × 36.8 cm,” confirming their exceptional rarity. Executed on 27 January 1962, this work served as the lithographic study for Picasso’s reinterpretation of Manet’s Déjeuner sur l’Herbe, one of the key themes of his late graphic period. The signature is strong and characteristic of the early 1960s, executed in graphite on the textured surface of the Arches sheet. Condition very fine to near excellent, full margins, slight traces of former mounting along the outer edge not affecting the image. This E.A. impression—outside the book and printed directly for the artist’s own use—constitutes one of the rarest states of the Les Déjeuners series, combining historic importance, perfect preservation and the intimate provenance of an artist’s proof from the Mourlot atelier
5 e.aare toughtto exists + one Bon à tirer.
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