Descripción
This special lithograph was made by Picasso in Cannes and dedicated to U.C.L.A. for the poster composition. The lithograph is in seven colors and was printed by transferring lithographic tracing paper to the support.
Neither this poster nor its motif has been reproduced on any other posters.
This is the first poster Picasso designed for an American organization and the second one made for the United States by an artist living in France. Henri Tolouse-Lautrec had already made one for an organization in Cincinnati.
In this poster, Picasso, free of all inhibitions, used a lively and spontaneous design that conveys the freshness that is so characteristic of him and that he knew how to preserve until his later years. He chose the colors carefully. He needed to create a harmony that would inspire joy and give the impression of a festive atmosphere. The title given to the event confirms this. The work also reveals the self-confidence, skill and instinct that Picasso enjoyed throughout his life.
With the freedom that characterizes his later works, Picasso drew this lithograph with a simple, agile stroke, as if it were graffiti or a spontaneous child’s drawing, which gives it a freshness and animation in harmony with the festive spirit.
Picasso’s characteristic humor is evident in the smallest details. His use of color and the lines of calligraphy are two good examples.
