Two sets of Picasso linocuts: Recent acquisitions

Really interesting display at the British Museum of two sets of recently acquired linocuts by Picasso.

They were fascinating because they had not only the finished work but also the progressive proofs showing a version of each stage of the process. The commentary explained the process really well and I was fascinated to see how the work built up from the palest colour to the darkest. You really appreciated the skill needed to build an image up by cutting back the detail at each stage rather than adding to it and how he created detail from colour not just line.

I preferred the colourful “Still life under a lamp” but it was a lovely contrast to the black and white “Jacqueline Reading” where some the detail had been created by scratching the surface of the lino with a metal comb. All a long way from my old junior school efforts!

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