Pablo PicassoBuste au Fond Etoilé. Head and Shoulders of a Girl with Stars in the Background.

Original lithograph drawn with a dry brush and with

gouache to create white lines and highlights out of a black wash inked

background, using transfer paper transferred to lithographic stone for inking

and printing.  1949. Signed in red chalk.

Inscribed in pencil by Leiris as ‘Épreuve d’Artiste’ – one of c.8

artist’s proofs before the issued edition of 50.  Drawn and printed at the Atelier Mourlot,

Paris, July 1949.

(Note: It has been recently discovered from the Mourlot

studio records that the date of 7.4.49 which Picasso added to the portrait is

incorrect. It was actually drawn on the third of July 1949.)

References: Mourlot - Picasso Lithographs no 163.

Guse-Rau – Picasso The Lithographs no 444. Bloch – Picasso Graphic work no 594.

Provenance: Private Collection, Switzerland.

Originally acquired direct from Galerie Leiris, Paris, Picasso’s agent, and

with the pencil annotations by Leiris and their stock number on the reverse.

Superb rich impression with very strong contrasts. On

pale cream Arches paper. Worked virtually to the full sheet size, as issued.

Sheet: 658 x  500 mm. 25 7/8 x 19 5/8

ins.