Faunes et Chèvre. 1959.
Linocut in colours.
Baer 126, presumably B h 2 (of B h 2). Bloch 934. Signed and numbered 17/50. On wove paper by Arches (with watermark), firmly laid on Japon. 52,8 : 63,5 cm (20,7 : 25 in). Sheet: 62 x 74,4 cm (24,2 x 29,3 in). Whenever Picasso discovered or rediscovered a new technique, he set himself the task of exhausting all possibilities it afforded. Our linocut is a prime example: the uniform printing made possible by linocutting inspired the artist to find simple forms for his compositions, which were then embellished with agitated elements. A celestial ballet against the clear blue of the sky corresponds to the dance of the fauns before a dark green background. The picture planes do not overlap or intersect. Picasso’s canon of forms is reductive, stringently oriented towards the properties of the material. The impact made is all the more memorable for that. [KD]

Printed by Arnéra. Published by the Galerie Louise Leiris, Paris 1960
Firmly laid onto Japon. With faint surface dirt in the margins, with skinned patches and isolated splits, partially minimally affecting the image (up to ca. 5 cm), skilfully restored. Image with isolated linear blemishes, retouched, and with a small closed triangular tear in centre.