Picasso Prints : The Vollard Suite


Nice exhibition at the British Museum to celebrate their recent acquisition of the only complete set of these prints in Britain.  

Created for Ambroise Vollard who had a passion for publishing books by leading Parisian  artists the prints were shown alongside the classical sculpture, Rembrandt prints bronze mirrors and Ingres drawings which inspired them. 

The tranquil theme of  artist and model evolves into more vicious Battle of Love group depicting scenes of rape and elements of voyeurism. 

The was a Wonderful variety of nudes from simple line sketches to pictures where cross hatching denotes the form. 

My favourites were "Sculptor, Model and Sculpted Bust" which shows naturalist figures creating a Picasso head and a Wonderful, lusty "Bacchic scene with Minatour".

The descriptions were excellent explaining the technique and symbolism.  

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