Ink on Paper Drawing Signed Picasso

Lot 99

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New York, NY 10128
United States

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About Auction

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Estate Art Collections

By Guernsey's

Nov 12, 2022

Set Reminder 2022-11-12 14:00:00 2022-11-12 14:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Estate Art Collections https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/guernseys/estate-art-collections-11222 Original works by Picasso, Chagall, Renoir, Utrillo, Calder, Miro, De Kooning, Warhol, Haring, and other important artists, multi-generational estate art collections to be sold at unreserved auction. Guernsey's auctions@guernseys.com

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Lot Description

Untitled
Pen and ink on paper
Signed Picasso lower right
Stamped on verso: Galerie Vollard; A. Vollard Collection; Arthur Tooth and Sons LTD
11 x 12 in / 28 x 30 cm
Unframed

Provenance:
Ambroise Vollard, Paris
Galerie Vollard, G. Rue Laffitte, Paris
Garth Lawson
Arthur Tooth & Sons Ltd, London

Documentation:
Letter Certificate from Arthur Tooth & Sons Ltd, London dated 22 Feb, 1970

Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) was unquestionably one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. Exceptionally prolific throughout the course of his long life, Picasso achieved universal recognition for his revolutionary artistic accomplishments, and became one of the best-known figures of our time. Picasso’s style evolved over his long career and he worked in a wide variety of media, as a painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramist, and theater designer. Picasso’s oeuve is often categorized into specific period: Blue Period (1901-1904), Rose Period (1904-1906), African Influence (1907-1918), Return to Classicism (1918-1936), Political (1937-1945), and Later Life (1946-1973). However, his style and his subjects remained fluid and elements from different stylistic periods could often be found in the same work.

There has been speculation as to the allegorical meaning of this drawing. However, as this remains unsubstantiated, we have not included those theories here.

Although undated, several factors point to this drawing as having been created between 1915 and 1920.
1. As it relates to Ambroise Vollard and Galerie Vollard, the stamp on the verso refers to Galerie Vollard located on Rue Laffitte. Vollard closed that Galerie in 1914 when the war broke out, and then did business out of his Paris apartment. In 1924 Vollard moved his art dealing to another location on rue de Martignac. The stamp identifying the gallery as being on Rue Lafitte likely indicates that this drawing was in Vollard’s inventory prior to 1924.
2. A forensic analysis of the ink and pen used in this drawing confirm that these materials were available in this time period.

Ambroise Vollard (1866-1939) was a French art dealer who is regarded as one of the most important dealers in French contemporary art at the beginning of the twentieth century. He is credited with providing exposure to numerous then-unknown artists, including Pablo Picasso, Pierre-August Renoir, Paul Cézanne, Aristide Maillol, Louis Valtat, André Derain, Georges Rouault, Paul Gauguin and Vincent van Gogh. Vollard was also an avid art collector and publisher. In June 1901, Pablo Picasso had his first major exhibition at a Vollard’s gallery on Paris’ renowned rue Laffitte. The exhibition included around 75 works, in a range of subjects and themes Picasso would explore in his later works: landscapes, street scenes and portraits of both high and low society. In 1905 Vollard’s interest also turned to art publishing and he sponsored the publication of many literary works superbly illustrated by Picasso, Degas and other painters, as well as editions of original prints and other graphic works by them. The outbreak of World War I in 1914 forced Vollard and almost every other dealer in Paris to close their galleries. After the war the center of the Paris art world shifted to the area near the Champs-Élysées, and Vollard chose not to maintain a working gallery and promote new art but rather to operate as a private dealer from his apartment. Vollard's greatest success was undoubtedly his collaboration with Pablo Picasso, resulting in the extraordinary Vollard Suite of 100 etchings, considered to be the most significate cycle of prints made by the artist.

Arthur Tooth & Sons Ltd. was prominent art gallery founded in London, England in 1842. When it first opened, the gallery focused on paintings by 18th and 19th century British artists, but expanded in the 1880s to include contemporary paintings and the occasional works by Old Masters. The gallery closed in the mid-1970’s.

This is an online only sale. Items may be viewed upon appointment in New York City.

Notice to bidders: More detailed condition reports and additional photographs are available by request. The absence of a condition report does not imply that the lot is in excellent condition. Please message us through the online bidding platform or call Guernsey's at 212-794-2280 to request a more thorough condition report. Notwithstanding any condition report or discussion concerning a lot, all lots are offered and sold “as is” in accordance with the condition of sale.
Shipping Info
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