Dover Art Library: Picasso Line Drawings and Prints

Más información sobre el libro

Picasso possesses an extraordinary line reminiscent of Botticelli. Each medium he mastered, regardless of its solidity, transforms into a line that serves as a key to a complex labyrinth. Theoretically, line is infinite, and Picasso nearly realized this concept through nearly a century of relentless drawing on various materials. This collection offers a glimpse into his vast oeuvre, showcasing the brilliance of his line across different periods. Starting with a 1905 drypoint of a circus family, the selection includes 44 drawings that explore Picasso's major themes, techniques, and styles. From the classic clarity of the Diaghilev and Stravinsky portraits (1919, 1920) to cubist studies and "neo-classical" nudes, Picasso's dynamic hand continually reinvents his world. The collection culminates in six passionate sketches from 1953–54, created during a personal crisis. Interspersed are moments of tranquility, such as Seven Dancers (1919) featuring Olga Picasso, alongside mythological studies like Eurydice Stung by a Serpent (1930) and Dying Minotaur in the Arena (1933). Additionally, Balzac is captured in a striking lithographic portrait (1952) and an etching for Vollard's edition of Le Chef-d'oeuvre inconnu. The appearance of a rugged Rembrandt (1934) underscores Picasso's status among the greatest draughtsmen in art history.