Femme Nue a la Jambe Pliee

PicassoB141

Pablo Picasso (Spanish 1881 – 1973), Femme Nue a la Jambe Pliee, etching, 1931, signed in pencil; from the Suite Vollard (Bloch 141, Geiser 208), from the edition of 300. Printed by Lacouriere, Paris; published by Vollard, Paris, with the Picasso watermark. In excellent condition, with full margins, 12 3/8 x 8 3/4, the sheet 17 7/8 x 13 1/2 inches.

A fine, clear impression.

Although the nude is of course featured, a close inspection reveals another face, just to her right (see detailed photos).  Femme Nue is one of the earliest of the Suite Vollard etchings, done in a pure etching line, and having classical elements, but also perhaps some cubist aspects as well. Of course we don’t know precisely what Picasso was thinking when making these early Vollard etchings, but it’s been generally thought that they represented a sort of pictorial diary, his musings about women, models, and their relationship to the artist (himself), at the beginning of the decade of the ’30’s.