Descripción
The second, by Devaye in Cannes, is catalogued solely as a reproduction of the first and can be distinguished from the original by the reference to both printers: Berto and Devaye.
Two print runs of the poster for the exhibition at the Galerie H. Matarasso were made: the first was printed in J. Berto’s workshop in Marseille and the second run, to which this poster belongs, was printed in Cannes. The lithograph “Portrait of Jacqueline” also served as the subject of the posters published for the Exhibition of Graphic Art, Posters and Ceramics held at the Kunstverein Hochrhein in Trompeterschloss Säckingen in September 1969.
The lithograph on which this original poster was based was one of Picasso’s first engraved portraits of Jacqueline and was made in 1956. The portrait shows her almost entirely in profile. The drawing is executed in classical calligraphic strokes with superimposed arabesques that exude serenity, beauty, great dignity and strength.
The master began making lithographs in 1919, when he designed an invitation for an exhibition of his works at the elegant gallery of Paul Rosenberg, which had witnessed his marriage to Olga. But he was not really interested in developing this printmaking technique until the Second World War.
Initially, Picasso made a three-colour lithograph of Jacqueline for the poster. Thrilled by the composition, he continued to work on the new portrait of her using lithographic pencil on zinc plates. Even more pleased with the result, he changed his mind and asked the printer, Berto, to use the last portrait on the poster instead of the first, and even made an “avant-la-lettre” print.
