Historical Description: Composed entirely in a cool palate of blues, greens, and browns, this work features a male artist intently working on his canvas. The implied hurried brushstrokes in the piece, particularly in the artist’s arm, create a “snapshot” like image—the artist captured in a moment of artist inspiration. This work is further rarified because it has been documented by the Alan Wofsy Picasso Project, along with a letter from publisher Guy Spitzer to Wofsy discussing this edition, written in July 1973.

Picasso’s Le Peintre is a marvelously large work executed in a unique painterly style, with fine attention to detail, and artistic stylization that mimics a monotype print. Created using hand applied Pochoir coloring, this is a unique and exciting technique in printmaking that closely resembles painted watercolors. The pochoir technique is applied to the finished print, thereby intensifying color and making each print unique. The pochoir in this print can be found along the shadow of the painter’s head, canvas, and arm.

Created in 1963, this work was published by Guy Spitzer and contains his publisher’s embossed blindstamp in the lower left side of the image. Printed on Arches wove watermarked paper, this piece is hand signed by Pablo Picasso (Malaga, 1881 - Mougins, 1973) in blue crayon in the lower right margin. The plate has also been signed by Picasso in the lower left. Stamp on verso reads, ‘Pablo Picasso Le Peintre Tirage Signé par l’artiste numeroté et limité a 350 exemplaires cette épreuve port le No 350.’