Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) worked with printmaking throughout his career, yielding some of the 20th century’s most iconic graphic works. After moving to Paris in 1904, his printmaking developed as one of the critical elements of his artistic output, along with painting and sculpture. Picasso experimented with several printmaking techniques: etching, lithography, linocut, aquatint, and woodcut—each continuously urging its conventions.
His early prints utilised etching and drypoint techniques, which Rembrandt and Goya inspired. His first major series of etchings, the Saltimbanques Suite, 1904-1905, presents the circus performers and other figures from Parisian nightlife, continuing the pessimistic note of his Blue and Rose periods. Throughout the succeeding decades, Picasso continued to perfect his etching techniques in such works as the Vollard Suite, 1930-1937-an ambitious series of 100 etchings commissioned by his dealer, Ambroise Vollard. This suite is a landmark in 20th-century printmaking; its themes of mythology, eroticism, and self-reflection by the artist are complexly intertwined.
Picasso started working with the lithographic technique in the 1940s and ’50s, beginning with extensive work in Paris in the Mourlot Studio. He developed a collaborative relationship with the master printer, Fernand Mourlot. This professional relationship allowed Picasso to learn from him all that was possible with the medium and stretch its boundaries for fluid, painterly effects. Woman with a Straw Hat, 1936, and portraits of Françoise Gilot are two of his renowned works executed in this medium.
In the late 1950s, Picasso concentrated on linocut as a medium, which became one of the most renowned series of colourful prints with simplified forms. Lino gave Picasso a new route for exploration, enabling him to create pieces fast and with much spontaneity. Among his most famous works in linocut, Portrait of Jacqueline from 1962 shows his vibrant style within this medium, evidenced by multiple stages of carving and layering.
During his lifetime, Picasso worked with master printers, who allowed him to explore new possibilities in printmaking. He often had to invent techniques to keep up with the artist’s inventive demands. This experimental spirit and constant reinvention have sealed Picasso’s printmaking legacy, inspiring generations of printmakers and adding a monumental chapter to his vast oeuvre.
Picasso Printmaker draws from the most extensive collection of Picasso prints held in the UK at the British Museum, this elegant new 160-page publication charts his printmaking career.
Separated into five key chapters: Paris, 1904 – 1915; Between the Wars, 1923 – 1939; Lithographs, 1945 – 1954; Linocuts, 1955 – 1964; and The final years, 1968 – 1971, readers are invited to explore some of Picasso’s most famous and lesser-known works including The Frugal Meal (1904) from the artist’s Blue Period (1901–04), prints from the celebrated Vollard Suite and the 347 Suite, the latter considered to be the most significant printmaking achievement of his final years.
Printmaking required Picasso to work closely with professional printers, and his relationships with crucial master printers throughout his life helped shape his output. He made intaglio prints, lithographs and linocuts, mastering techniques and developing new, experimental and unconventional methods.
This book spans Picasso’s career. It follows Picasso as he develops his print practice and reflects his most essential styles, subjects, and influences.
Catherine Daunt is the Curator of Modern and Contemporary Prints at the British Museum and the Curator of the exhibition Picasso: printmaker, which will open there in November 2024.
Exhibition
Picasso Printmaker: Open Saturday to Thursday from 10:00 to 17.00 and Friday from 10:00 to 20.30. Early bird tickets are available for £9 on weekdays and £11 at weekends. Under-16s are free when accompanied by a paying adult. 2-for-1 students are available tickets on Fridays, and concessions and group rates are available.
Although only a small selection of the British Museum’s works on paper can be displayed at any one time in exhibitions, the collection exists to be seen, shared, and studied, and it can be viewed in the Prints and Drawings Study Room.
Top Photo: Picasso Printmaker P C Robinson © Artlyst 2024