Lot Essay
The present work is part of a series of pastels and oils which Picasso executed during his summer residence in Fontainebleau in 1921 when he was working on his monumental neo-classical painting entitled Femmes à la Fontaine (fig. 1), now housed in the Museum of Modern Art, New York. The oil is a study for the seated figure at the right hand side of the painting which has been identified as Olga Khokhlova, the Russian dancer in Diaghilev's Ballets Russes whom Picasso married in 1918 and by whom they had a son, Paulo. Amongst the many studies of Olga executed at this time is a superb pastel of 1921 (fig. 2) which is the sister piece to the present oil.
Much like the pastels, the head of Olga here is highly stylised and has been given a strong sculptural quality by Picasso's use of light and shade and extraordinary sense of volume, characteristic of all the major neo-classical works of this period.
Profil de Femme remained in Olga's family until its sale by Bernard, Paulo's son.
Maya Widmaier-Picasso has kindly confirmed the authenticity of this work.
Much like the pastels, the head of Olga here is highly stylised and has been given a strong sculptural quality by Picasso's use of light and shade and extraordinary sense of volume, characteristic of all the major neo-classical works of this period.
Profil de Femme remained in Olga's family until its sale by Bernard, Paulo's son.
Maya Widmaier-Picasso has kindly confirmed the authenticity of this work.