Pablo Picasso. 1881-1973.
Homme dévoilant une Femme. (Man uncovering a woman). 1933. Etching. Bloch 138; Baer 203 B.d. 14 1/2 x 11 3/4 (sheet 17 1/2 x 11 3/4). Series: Suite Vollard, plate 5. From the edition of 250 on petit papier vergé Montval paper (there was also an edition of 50 on grand papier vergé Montval that same year, and 3 on parchment). Printed by: Lacourière, Paris. A rich impression with drypoint burr, printed on laid paper countermarked 'Vollard' on the full sheet with deckle edges. Signed in pencil. $22,500.
Repos du Sculpteur devant Petit Torse. (Reclining sculptor before the small torso). 1933. Etching. Bloch 162, Baer 315 Bd. 7 9/16 x 10 1/2 (sheet 13 3/8 x 17 3/8). Series: Suite Vollard, plate 58. Edition of 250 on petit papier vergé Montval (there was also an edition of 50 on grand papier vergé Montval that same year, and 3 on parchment). Printed by: Lacourière, Paris. A rich with drypoint burr, impression printed on Montval laid paper countermarked 'Picasso' on the full sheet with deckle edges. Signed in pencil. $13,500.
Sculpteur, Modèlele, et Sculpture Assise. (Sculptor and model viewing statue of a seated woman). 1933. Etching. Bloch 146, Geiser/Baer 297 VI B. 12 7/16 by 7 1/4 (sheet 17 1/2 x 13 1/2). Series: Suite Vollard, plate 40. Edition of 250 on petit papier vergé Montval (there was also an edition of 50 on grand papier vergé Montval that same year, and 3 on parchment). Printed by: Lacourière, Paris. A rich with drypoint burr, impression printed on laid paper countermarked 'Picasso', on the full sheet with deckle edges. Signed in pencil. $12,500.
Portrait of Vollard II. 1937. Aquatint. Bloch 231, Baer 618. 11 9/16 x 9 9/16 (sheet 17 5/8 x 13 3/16). Series: Suite Vollard, plate 98. Edition of 250 on petit papier vergé Montval (there was also an edition of 50 on grand papier vergé Montval that same year, and 3 on parchment). Printed by: Lacourière, Paris. A rich impression printed on Montval laid paper countermarked 'Picasso' on the full sheet with deckle edges. Signed in pencil. $5,000.
The suite of 100 images was named for Picasso's art dealer and publisher, Ambroise Vollard (1867-1939). Vollard, responsible for giving the first one-man show in Paris for Picasso in 1901 is the subject of a special exhibition to be at the Museum of Modern Art in New York September, 2006 - January, 2007. Vollard also gave the first solo shows for artists Cezanne and Matisse in the Paris gallery he created in 1893 where he also exhibited art by Degas, Rodin, Gauguin, and Van Gogh, among others. In most of these early shows Vollard defied public taste, supporting avante-garde artists, all of whom later painted portraits of Vollard in appreciation for his early support.
In 1913 Vollard began to purchase the copper etching plates that Picasso prepared with the intent of producing a limited number of etchings "pulled" from those plates.
In 1937 Vollard was given 97 copper etching plates by Picasso in trade for some paintings (by other artists) that Picasso wanted from Vollard. The etching plates were created in the period 1930 to 1936. Picasso later created three etchings of Vollard, bringing the total number of etching plates to 100.
Vollard died in an auto accident in 1939 and soon after the etching plates were acquired by Georges Petiet. After World War II Petiet had Picasso sign a certain number of sets of the Vollard Suite etchings.