Picasso, printmaker, A perpetual metamorphosis (book)

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Picasso printmaker, A perpetual metamorphosis (book) by Emmanuel Benador. First printing. Numbered and signed edition. Hardcover book. Very good state. Signed by Faustino Quintanilla, general director of the QCC Art Gallery (Quintanilla provides the foreword to this book). 2008. Limited to 400 numbered and signed copies. Bound in brown felt stamped in silver, 339 pages, abundantly illustrated, many in color. Silver stamp on spine starting to fade, light dust on binding. New York: QCC Art Gallery / The City University of New York, 2008. A small coffee-colored stain on the lower edge of the book (see photo). In English. The Myra and Sandy Kirschenbaum collection.

Picasso, Master engraver. Since the time of Rembrandt, although it is common knowledge that Picasso is the greatest modern engraver, the reasons remain ambiguous. In the book Picasso: Master Printmaker, the author demonstrates why the artist was so involved in this medium. Picasso, like no other artist, wanted to differentiate his prints from his drawings or paintings because they were a constant source of inspiration and challenge. For example, a print made by Picasso is often mistaken by people for a reproduction rather than an original work of art.

Picasso was able to work and rework the same “matrix” called “states” or “stages” until he was completely satisfied. For a drawing or painting to be reworked, a new sheet of paper or canvas is needed instead of reusing the same copper plate, the same lithographic stone, the same zinc or the same block of linoleum. Each step is verified by a printed print so that Picasso can choose to go further or stop at any point in the process. In order to obtain aesthetic effects, he invented new techniques. All this is described in the book with pictures and examples. He cared so much about his technique and his prints that when a printer wanted to add something, he would destroy the entire work. What is also striking is the number of references to other artists, from ancient Egypt to Giotto, Rembrandt, Degas, from mythological stories to personal events. The book explains famous series of prints such as the Vollard Suite (from the 1930s, named after the famous art dealer of Cézanne or Van Gogh, Ambroise Vollard).

Picasso not only changed the way we see art, but also radically modified certain techniques such as engraving. The book will most likely be a reference not only in the field of printmaking but also for art lovers.

Feel free to check out the additional photos at the top left, thank you!

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