Georges DENIKER (1885-1952 )Cubist face, 1912Ink . Signed and dated lower right. 31 x 21 cmProvenance : - Collection Bertrand de Souza. Given by Madame Deniker to him. - Private collection, Paris. "The youngest cubist in France is called Georges Deniker". Guillaume Apollinaire in Mercure de France, November 16, 1911. Georges Deniker with his brother and poet Nicolas Deniker frequented the literary and artistic circles at the dawn of the 20th century. As a painter and sculptor, he became friends with Guillaume Apollinaire, André Salmon, Maurice Cremnitz, Frank Burty Haviland, Enric Casanovas and Manuel Hugué, known as Manolo, and became their student. It was through them that he discovered Montmartre in 1907 and befriended Max Jacob, Picasso, Fernande Olivier, Derain and above all Braque, whom he considered his big brother. In the Mercure de France of November 16, 1911, Apollinaire awarded him the title of "youngest cubist in France". From 1907 onwards, he became a regular visitor to Picasso's studio at the Bateau-Lavoir and to Braque's studio on rue d'Orsel. He organized nightly walks with Picasso in the Jardin des Plantes. In 1911, he joins Manolo, his wife Totote, Picasso and Frank Haviland in Céret. Fernand Olivier, Braque and his companion Marcelle will join them at the beginning of August. In November 1911, he begins his military service as a sapper-airman. During his leave, he met up with his poet and artist friends in Paris and in Céret, where he returned in June and December 1912. He was mobilized in 1914 and embarked on a diplomatic career after the war.