John Szoke Gallery
Picasso and Marie-Thérèse
Picasso and Marie-Thérèse
Pablo Picasso
In 1927, Picasso—who was in his mid-forties, married, and had a young son—began a clandestine affair with Marie-Thérèse Walter, a young woman of only seventeen. Picasso was drawn to Walter upon first sight, brashly introducing himself to the girl as she emerged from the Métro. He proposed that he paint her portrait; shortly thereafter she came to the studio and their intense relationship began. The artist was drawn to Walter’s flaxen hair, strong sculptural features, and voluptuous and sturdy build (skating, boating, cycling and swimming were some of her favorite pastimes). She quickly became his primary muse—her distinctive features appear in countless works over the next decade. Their torrid and somewhat perverse affair had the effect of freeing Picasso from the analytical, abstracted forms of Cubism and Surrealism to the sensual, energetic, and exploratory figurative work that became his hallmark.
Image Credit:
Faune dévoilant une Dormeuse (Jupiter et Antiope, d'après Rembrandt) (S.V. 27), 1936, Sugarlift aquatint and burin with scraper
You have an interesting face. I would like to do your portrait. I have a feeling we will do great things together.
Pablo Picasso
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Le Rêve, 1932, oil on canvas ©Private collection
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©The Times
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© Cecil Beaton Studio Archive, Sotheby's London
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Sculpture, Tête de Marie-Thérèse
Pablo Picasso
1933
Drypoint
From the Caisse à remords State XX C.b 1 Stamp signature, lower right Numbered 35/50 in pencil, lower left Image: 12 7/12 x 9 1/8 inches Sheet: 18 3/8 x 14 1/2 inches (Bloch 250) (Baer 288)
Pablo Picasso
Profil sculptural de Marie-Thérèse
1933 (March 7, Paris)
Etching and drypoint printed on Montval laid paper with Picasso watermark
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Pablo Picasso
Muse montrant à Marie-Thérèse pensive son Portrait sculpté
1933 (March 17.III, Paris)
Etching and engraving printed on Montval laid paper with Picasso watermark
One of two or three artist's proofs printed before steelfacing of the seventh (final) state Signed by artist in pencil, lower left Dedicated "Pour Frélaut, Paris le 27 Avril 1942" in pencil, lower right Printed by Lacourière, 1942 Image: 10 1/2 x 7 5/8 inches Sheet: 16 7/8 x 13 1/4 inches Framed: 23 3/4 x 19 1/8 inches (Bloch 257) (Baer 299.VII.A.b)
Pablo Picasso
Femme Torero, I
1934 (June 12, Paris)
Etching printed on Montval paper with Montval watermark
From the edition of 50 Inscribed "mardi 12 juin, Paris XXXIV" in the plate Printed by Lacourière, 1939 Pubished by Vollard, 1939 Image: 19 1/2 x 27 1/8 inches Sheet: 22 1/4 x 30 1/4 inches Framed: 32 1/2 x 39 3/4 inches (Bloch 1329) (Baer 425.C)
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John Szoke Gallery
41 East 57th Street, 6FL, New York, NY 10022
2122198300