Heralded as one of Picasso’s more classic profile portraits, this Pablo Picasso Tête de Femme (Marie-Thérèse) [Head of a Woman] is shaped and contoured to the surface qualities of a suggested sculpture relief.  Through its deep hues of gold and brown, both its highlights and lowlights are accented dramatically, giving the life-like illusion and recreation of Marie-Thérèse herself.

Created in 1958, this image was created for a poster designated for an exposition of Picasso's sculptures and drawings during the same year at the Maison de la Pensée Française, Paris. The poster with the lettering was out of an edition of 800 while there was an additional edition of 150 featuring only the image without the text.  This particular piece is numbered from the edition of 150 in pencil in the lower left margin.  It is hand-signed by the artist in crayon in the lower right margin.

Having been known to have had a number of muses throughout his lifetime, Picasso did not have one more significant to him than Marié-Thérèse.  She was to be the inspiration for several of his works, including this particular lithograph aptly titled Head of a Woman.  She faces toward the left of the frame, accenting her extremely unique and personable features – prominent nose, full lips, and defined cheek bones.  While facing one way, however, she seems to retain our gaze, as her sharp eyes glimmer through the golds and bronzes of the piece and captivates us with her stare.  Picasso’s interesting technique can be noted further in the delicate waves of her hair, giving it an organic and fluid quality despite its solid and textured appearance.  The image, based on one of the works in the exhibition, creates the illusion of being in relief and having the depth of a wall sculpture.

Catalogue Raisonné & COA:

Pablo Picasso Tête de Femme (Marie-Thérèse) [Head of a Woman] is fully documented and referenced in the below catalogue raisonnés and texts (copies will be enclosed as added documentation with the invoices that will accompany the final sale of the work):

1. Czwiklitzer, Christopher. Picasso’s Posters, New York, 1971. Listed and illustrated as cat. no. 129 and detailed on pg. 363.

About the Framing:

Conservation framed with archival materials, this work is set in an ornate Renaissance-style gold moulding.  The golden sheen of the framing contrasts nicely with the work while complimenting and bringing out the dark tones in the piece.  The sculptural details accentuate the organic forms within the image and Picasso’s overall aesthetic.  Completed with white, linen-wrapped mats and a matching gold inner fillet, this work is set behind an archival Plexiglas® cover.