Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)

Etude de main (La main de l'artiste)

Details

Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)
Etude de main (La main de l'artiste)
signed and dedicated bottom right 'Picasso pour Monsieur Boyesen, Paris 23-9-44'--dated on the reverse '5-6-20'
gouache on paper
9 3/8 x 13½in. (24.8 x 34.3cm.)
Painted on June 5, 1920

Provenance

Mr. Boyesen (gift from the artist, Sept. 23, 1944); sale, The Plaza Art Galleries, New York, Nov. 12, 1954, lot 45 (illustrated on the frontispiece)
R. Corroyer, New York

Literature

C. Zervos, Pablo Picasso, Paris, 1951, vol. 4 (Oeuvres de 1920 à 1922 ), no. 47 (illustrated, pl. 14)
ed. The Picasso Project, Picasso's Paintings, Watercolors, Drawings and Sculpture: Neoclassicism II, 1920-1921, San Francisco, 1995, no. 20-240 (illustrated, p. 74)

Lot Essay

In 1920, at the height of his classical phase, Picasso drew and painted several versions of his left hand which he executed with his right hand. While they are related to studies of hands for his classical figures of women and share with them a monumental quality, they are far less stylized and more naturalistic; the artist faithfully depicted the wedding band on his left ring-finger.

A photo-certificate from the Comité Picasso dated Paris, June 13, 1989 accompanies this gouache.