Details
PAUL PIERRE LEMAGNY (1905-1977) AND PABLO PICASSO (1881-1973)
Portrait de Picasso et remarque pour 'Temoignage' de Jean Cocteau
engraving and drypoint
1956
on laid Auvergne paper, with proprietary and Heart watermarks
signed by Picasso in blue crayon, signed by Lemagny and inscribed épreuve d'artiste in pencil
an artist's proof aside from the total numbered edition of 97 impressions (32 on simili-Japan and 65 on Rives wove paper)
the full sheet, with deckle edges
some light- and mount staining and a few foxmarks
Plate 39,4 x 27,6 cm. (1512 x 1078 in.)
Sheet 55 x 40,2 cm. (2134 x 1578 in.)
Provenance
Dr Ernst Hauswedell, Hamburg, 25 June 1968, lot 1109.
Acquired at the above sale; then by descent to the present owners.
Literature
G. Bloch, Catalogue de l'oeuvre gravé et lithographe 1904-1967, Bern, 1968, vol I, no. 823, p. 182 (another impression ill.).
B. Baer & B. Geiser, Picasso - Peintre - Graveur, Bern, 1987, no. 955, p. 275 (another impression ill.).
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Lot Essay

Lemagny's engraved portrait of Picasso was intended for the book Temoignage by Jean Cocteau, published by Pierre Bertrand, Paris, in 1956, in celebration of Picasso's 65th birthday. Before the plate was cut down and printed for the book edition, Picasso added his remarque, signature and the date 20 mai 1956 Nimes to the plate. It is not known whether Lemagny was simply showing the plate with his portrait to Picasso, who then decided on the spot to add the remarque in drypoint, or whether a small edition of the uncut plate with a contribution by him had always been envisaged. In any case, the very realistic portrait of the artist and his own, whimsically sketched heads of a woman and a faun make for a charming combination.
The present artist's proof on Auvergne paper was not known to Baer.

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