Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)
La Pique (Bloch 908; Baer 1227A)
Linocut printed in red and yellow, 1959, signed and inscribed "Essai" in pencil, a trial proof aside from the edition of 50, on thick wove paper, with margins, sheet 621 x 750mm (24 3/8 x 29 1/2in) (unframed)
Footnote:
Working trial proofs of Picasso"s linocuts are incredibly scarce. The present impression printed with particularly deep relief and with vibrant colours is identical in scale and configuration to another trial proof sold at Artcurial, Paris, on May 31, 2011, lot 229, which was dedicated to Picasso"s master linocut printer Hidalgo Arnéra. Notably both works share the same slightly right aligned registration of the yellow block, which suggests that the proofs are from the same state and were printed at the same time in order for the artist to resolve the image for the final state.