Description:

Pablo Picasso
Cannes, France, March 1, 1956
Pablo Picasso PSA GEM Mint 9 Rare ALS Dated Just Before "Les Baigneurs" Bronze Sculptural Group
ALS

A 1p autograph letter in French signed by Spanish Modern artist Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) as "Picasso" at center. March 1, 1956. Written at Villa La Californie, Picasso's home and artist's studio in Cannes, France from 1955-1961. Inscribed in black ink on a paper half-sheet, with two contemporaneous typographical edits. Picasso has underlined his salutation, and made a zigzagging paraph under the date. Encapsulated and PSA/DNA certified and graded Mint 9. Expected wear including flattened transmittal folds and a few extra wrinkles, else near fine and very legible. The actual size of the letter is 7" x 5.375" while the slab measures 10.125" x 6.75."

Picasso addressed this letter to Max Pellequer (before 1903 - after 1973), a close friend who has been called the artist's "finance minister" by one art historian. It is a testament to Picasso's intimacy with Pellequer (the two were friends between 1914 and the early 1970s) that the artist penned an entire autograph letter signed to him instead of relegating this task to Jaime Sabartés, Picasso's private secretary and later biographer. Overall, autograph letters signed by Picasso of any length or content are extremely rare because Picasso was often too busy or too bored to be bothered with correspondence.

In 1956, Picasso was creating artwork in multiple media, including ceramics, oils on canvas, lithographs, and sculpture. Picasso's move to the seashore the previous year inspired a multi-figural sculptural group called "Les Baigneurs" ["The Bathers"] in the summer of 1956. The first version of the sculptural group was made of repurposed wood like bed legs, broom handles, and parts of painting frames. It can now be viewed at the Staatsgalerie in Stuttgart, Germany. The second version was cast in bronze at the Valsuani Foundry, and is now in the collection of the Musée Picasso in Paris, France. The six figures collectively comprising "Les Baigneurs" range in size from about 4 1/2 ft to 10 1/2 ft. They depict: "L'Enfant" ["The Child"]; "La Plongeuse" ["The Female Diver"]; "L'Homme - Fontaine" ["The Man - Fountain"]; "Le Jeune Homme" ["The Young Man"]; "L'Homme aux mains jointes" ["Man with joined hands"]; and "La Femme aux bras écartés" ["Woman with spread out arms."] Picasso also worked hard in his artist's studio, a place which he depicted in the 1956 oil on canvas entitled "L'Atelier de la villa La Californie" ["Studio at Villa California."] The painting depicts a high-ceiling artist's studio scattered with easels propping up colorful works in progress.

Transcript in French and the English translation, with unchanged spelling and punctuation:

Transcribed in full:

"'La Californie'
le 1er Mars 1956
Cannes A.M.

Mon cher Max

Je viens de recevoir votre triste lettre.

Je vous embrasse tous les deux

votre
Picasso."

Translated in full:

"'La Californie'
the 1st March 1956
Cannes A.M. [Alpes-Maritimes]

My dear Max

I just received your sad letter.

I embrace you both

your
Picasso."

The sad news which Picasso received from Pellequer is not known. Much of Picasso's correspondence with Pellequer discussed Picasso's tax assessments and tax payments, his contributions to benefit funds, his insurance payments, and his residency status. Personal remarks that Picasso makes in these letters relate to his family, acquaintances, and current artistic projects.

Max Pellequer was a French banker who co-founded and later directed the Banque Nationale du Commerce et de l'Industrie. Over several decades, Pellequer's astute financial advice and shrewd stewardship of Picasso's sprawling assets enabled the artist to become a millionaire. Pellequer was also a kindred spirit, a serious art collector who acquired artwork by artists like Picasso, Degas, Cézanne, Gauguin, Matisse, Miró, Modigliani, Dufy, and others. Picasso purchased works from Pellequer's collection, and the artist designed a bookplate for his beloved friend. During the Nazi occupation of France, Pellequer is believed to have helped save some of Picasso's work by hiding it. This is no small accomplishment when one considers it would have probably been classified as "degenerate" by the Nazis and otherwise destroyed.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: slabbed: 10.125" x 6.75"
  • Medium: ALS

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