1971 After Pablo Picasso, "Joy of Life" Large Original Parisian Photogravure

Description

Large period tipped-in photogravure after La Joie de Vivre by Pablo Picasso. Comes from the artist folio published by New … more Large period tipped-in photogravure after La Joie de Vivre by Pablo Picasso. Comes from the artist folio published by New French Editions in Paris, France, in 1971. Tipped-in on an insert, not the book page. Copy by G. Boudaille on the back. Excellent condition - never framed.

Overall 19"W x 12.75"H
Image 14.75"W x 6.90"H

According to the nineteenth century French historian Jules Michelet "la joie de vivre" is a harmonious state, a peaceful existence within nature. In English, “the joy of living” is associated with all those things that make life worthwhile. In the year the Cubist Pablo Picasso painted this work, there was not much joy in postwar Europe. The artist had finally returned to his favourite French Riviera to enjoy freedom from Occupation as well as burgeoning relationship with a young French artist, Francoise Gilot, whom he painted as a flower in 1946. She is most likely the model for the central creature of this work, with its long flowing hair, in a dance with the fauns and satyrs, the half-horse, half-men of ancient Greek mythology. The couple visited Matisse in Nice - it was probably Matisse's request to paint Francoise with green hair that provoked Picasso to copy his rival's earlier work. Picasso, 65 years old, and age when most retire, was once more in love with a very young woman and full of creative fervour. Francoise, 25, found she was pregnant shortly after this work was finished. less