Portrait of Picasso (after Gris)

Juan Gris

This engraving was published as a reproduction of Gris's 1912 painting "Portrait of Picasso" in the book, "Du Cubisme." Included in the book were eleven intaglios by different leading Cubist artists of the time. There were seven original and four reproductive intaglios, of which this was one. Which artist did this drypoint is not clear.

"Du Cubisme" was a portfolio of graphic interpretations of Cubism. It was initiated and assembled by Albert Gleizes and Jean Metzinger. Although the prints for this portfolio were done in the teens of the 20th century, they were not published together until the 1947, possibly because before then the works had not yet been assimilated.

The portfolio features eleven intaglio prints, including three by the founding fathers of the Cubist movement, Picasso, Braque, and Gris, and other works by artists who were influenced by the movement, including Gleizes, Picabia, Villon, Derain, Metzinger, Léger, Duchamp, and Marie Laurencin. The four reproductive engravings and etchings were after paintings by Gris, Braque, Derain and Leger. They could well have been etched by Jacques Villon, who was one of the participants and had done a series of aquatints and etchings of fellow artists' paintings, with their cooperation.

The edition of 455 was as follows: 1 (1) on Auvergne with 2 extra sets of the plates and several proof states; 19 (2 - 20) on Auvergne with 2 extra sets of the plates; 15 (21 - 35) on Auvergne with 1 extra set of the plates; 420 (36 - 455) on Lana wove, including 20 hors commerce copies.