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Lot 331 D

Pablo Picasso - Célestine

Auction 1059 - overview Cologne
27.11.2015, 18:00 - Modern Art
Estimate: 35.000 € - 40.000 €
Result: 42.160 € (incl. premium)

Pablo Picasso

Célestine
1968/1971

Book of 66 etchings and aquatint-etchings on Auvergne laid paper Richard de Bas with watermark "LA CÉLESTINE" From 6 x 8 cm up to 14 x 11 cm (21 x 16.6 cm) The imprint signed 'Picasso' in pencil and with the printed annotation "Exemplaire de Klaus et Katja Dohrn". One of 18 dedicated proofs aside from the numbered edition of 350, 30 proofs 'hors commerce' and 2 specimen copies. Etchings double sheets with text, bound in parchment in light parchment cover, in parchment-covered original slipcase and cardboard. Text "La Celestina" by Fernando de Rojas from 1499. Éditions de l'Atelier Crommelynck, Paris, 1971. The etching printed by Atelier Crommelynck, the text by Fequet et Baudier, Paris. - In perfect condition apart from very few minute fox marks.

Fernando de Rojas' tragicomic novella “La Celestina” is composed in the form of a series of scenes and is among the standard works of Spanish literature from the period of the Renaissance.
It tells a story of human desires and passions, of love and money, of the differences between social classes. One of the characters in this tale of intrigue is Celestina, an old matchmaker.
The French translation used here is by Pierre Heugas. Picasso's etchings accompanying this text display an enormous range of variations in terms of their stylistic expression and their technical realisation ranging from dry point to aquatint. The individual motifs were also printed separately on larger sheets of paper. For the book format Picasso wanted to avoid having text printed on the reverse side of the etchings: thus text and etching were placed on a double sheet that was subsequently folded for binding.
This book is a rarity that is seldom offered for sale in this form.

Catalogue Raisonné

Geiser/Baer 1523,1545,1557, 1575, 1579, 1580, 1589-1592, 1597-1599, 1603, 1604, 1608, 1609, 1612-1618, 1620-1623, 1632,1633,1641-1647,1651-1653,1663,1665, 1666, 1670-1672, 1674, 1677, 1680, 1681, 1684-1686, 1705, 1706, 1710, 1744-1746, 1750, 1764, 1768, 1

Provenance

Collection of Kurt and Katja Dohrn; in private collection since, Bavaria