Pablo PICASSO (1881-1973) - Lot 73

Pablo PICASSO (1881-1973) Portrait of Piero Crommelynck II. 1966. Aquatint (lithographic pencil reserves) and etching on zinc. 68 x 47 cm. Bloch 1378; Baer 1400 B a. Very fine proof on vellum, from an edition of ten artist's proofs, apart from the edition of 50 made for the Louise Leiris gallery in 1968, dedicated "FOR Lucien Clergue" and signed in pencil. All margins. Framed (not examined out of frame). Exhibition: From Clergue to Picasso, Musée Réattu, Arles, October 4, 2014 - January 4, 2015. Piero Crommelynck (1934-2001) and his brother Aldo were Picasso's regular intaglio printers, who brought them to Mougins in 1963, when he was 82 years old, to handle almost all his prints. The two brothers set up their studio in an old bakery in the village. "A close collaboration developed between them over the next ten years: "In the village of Mougins, where our studio is located, in Notre-Dame-de-Vie, Picasso's farmhouse, the road is now familiar to us. We call it the copper road, because for a long time now we've been taking it, periodically, at all hours of the day and even night, for weeks and sometimes months at a time, to bring the master finely polished plates, which he immediately engraves" (A. and P. Crommelynck, "Picasso noir et blanc", in Arts loisirs, 1966)." (Encyclopedia Universalis). Constant to-ing and fro-ing took place, as the state of each plate progressed. The two brothers produced several important suites, including the 347 etchings executed by Picasso between March 16 and October 5, 1968, and the 156 etched between October 24, 1968 and March 25, 1972. "Piero Crommelynck was very present in Picasso's painted and engraved work, because Picasso saw him not only as a friend, but also as a witness to art and creation, and a faithful assistant. Piero Crommelynck wanted to be the perfect instrument of Picasso's thought and hand, sometimes guiding him in technical matters but never allowing himself the slightest interpretation. Piero and his brother Aldo knew how to be the discreet, passionate and attentive men who enabled Picasso to let his inspiration and verve speak for themselves with a sovereign mastery, a freedom and a spontaneity unmatched by copper." (Encyclopedia Universalis).