Unframed.

Provenance:

Galerie Louise Leiris, Paris, France.

Collection of Herman C. Goldsmith, New York, February 17, 1971.

Acquired directly from the above.

Collection of Mr. Harold M. Rapp.

The Estate of Harold M. Rapp.

By descent in the Rapp family to the present owner.

Literature:

Christian Zervos, Pablo Picasso, Éditions Cahiers d'Art, Paris, 1932-1978, Vol. 31, no. 109 & 110, p. 36 (both illustrated).

Note:

In early 1969, late in his life and career, Pablo Picasso embarked on a series of paintings he called Portraits Imaginaires, or Imaginary Portraits, bursts of color and playfulness that referred to favorite subjects found in paintings by Rembrandt, or in literary classics by William Shakespeare, Honoré de Balzac, or Alexandre Dumas. Painted quickly on discarded pieces of corrugated cardboard that accompanied an art supply shipment, the works were theatrical, whimsical and bright, and later adapted into a suite of twenty-nine lithographs by the printmaker Marcel Salinas. Created between 1969 and 1972, the suite was published posthumously in 1973 by Salinas.

The present double-sided drawing, Tête d’Homme (with Deux Têtes verso), dates from this period. Executed in March 1969, it recalls Rembrandt’s seventeenth-century Dutch dandies while evoking Alexandre Dumas’ Three Musketeers, all attired in Louis XIII garments. With their swirling hair, beards, and playful gazes, these figures offer a stylized, fantastical guise for Picasso’s late-career reimaginings of a familiar and nostalgic theme. For the artist, the Musketeers embodied masculinity, vitality, power, and strength—and have even been described by art historians as his “alter ego,” a notion made all the more poignant by the fact that Picasso's health appeared to slightly decline at the time this drawing was created, the artist recovering from an invasive stomach surgery a few years prior.

The work is unframed and in overall good condition. The paper is slightly toned with mat staining verso. There are some tiny soft handling creases at the extreme corners. On recto there are a few pinpoint spots of soiling, for instance at top left, bottom left and right center. On verso there is a line of yellowish staining, horizontally at top right approx. 1/2 in. from the top edge, running about 1 1/2 in. long. There is a stray pencil mark in the left figure's hat, approx. 1 1/2 in. There are a few pinpoint fox marks, for instance in the right figure's eyebrow and in the left figure's beard. Additional images available upon request.

The physical condition of lots in our auctions can vary due to age, normal wear and tear, previous damage, and restoration/repair. All lots are sold "AS IS," in the condition they are in at the time of the auction, and we and the seller make no representation or warranty and assume no liability of any kind as to a lot's condition. Any reference to condition in a catalogue description or a condition report shall not amount to a full accounting of condition. Condition reports prepared by Freeman's staff are provided as a convenience and may be requested from the Department prior to bidding.

The absence of a posted condition report on the Freeman's website or in our catalogues should not be interpreted as commentary on an item's condition. Prospective buyers are responsible for inspecting a lot or sending their agent or conservator to inspect the lot on their behalf, and for ensuring that they have requested, received and understood any condition report provided by Freeman's.

Please email awolkenberg@freemansauction.com for any additional information or questions you may have regarding this lot.