1951
This is an extremely rare lithograph, a presentation copy, dedicated to Geneviève Laporte (1926–2012), who was Picasso's lover during the 1950s. Having first met in 1944 when Laporte was just 17, the pair formed a friendship that would later turn into a romantic affair in 1951, which lasted for two years. Picasso gifted her a selection of works during their time spent in Saint-Tropez in 1951 including the present piece.
Geneviève played a crucial role in Picasso's life as the romantic transition between the departure of his lover Françoise Gilot, and the arrival of Jacqueline Roque, who became his second wife, remaining by his side until his death in 1973. This same year Laporte, a poet and writer herself, published a book about her life with Picasso titled 'Si tard le soir, le soleil brille' (Sunshine at Midnight), which is also a direct quote from Picasso's dedication written on this work. Laporte recounts the moment Picasso gifted her the current work and wrote about its dedication in this extract from her book:
'A few weeks later, Picasso gave me a second lithograph, The Toad [Le Crapaud], identically framed. This time he allowed me to choose between proofs in blue, sepia and black inks. I chose the last, and Picasso wrote on it with the same red pencil: Si tard le soir, le soleil brille. Pour Geneviève.' (Laporte, Geneviève. Sunshine at Midnight: Memories of Picasso and Cocteau, 1973, Weidenfeld ad Nicolson, London, p.90-91.)
Lithograph, 1951, on Velin Arches paper, inscribed, dated and signed in red chalk lower left: 'Si tard, le soir le soleil brille' 'Pour geneviève' 'Picasso' '4 Juillet 1951', a proof aside from the standard edition of 50 (there were also 6 proofs for the artist and printer), image: 49.4 x 64 cm (19.4 x 25.2 in.), sheet: 49.6 x 65.3 cm (19.5 x 25.7 in.)
Mourlot 144; Bloch 585
Geneviève played a crucial role in Picasso's life as the romantic transition between the departure of his lover Françoise Gilot, and the arrival of Jacqueline Roque, who became his second wife, remaining by his side until his death in 1973. This same year Laporte, a poet and writer herself, published a book about her life with Picasso titled 'Si tard le soir, le soleil brille' (Sunshine at Midnight), which is also a direct quote from Picasso's dedication written on this work. Laporte recounts the moment Picasso gifted her the current work and wrote about its dedication in this extract from her book:
'A few weeks later, Picasso gave me a second lithograph, The Toad [Le Crapaud], identically framed. This time he allowed me to choose between proofs in blue, sepia and black inks. I chose the last, and Picasso wrote on it with the same red pencil: Si tard le soir, le soleil brille. Pour Geneviève.' (Laporte, Geneviève. Sunshine at Midnight: Memories of Picasso and Cocteau, 1973, Weidenfeld ad Nicolson, London, p.90-91.)
Lithograph, 1951, on Velin Arches paper, inscribed, dated and signed in red chalk lower left: 'Si tard, le soir le soleil brille' 'Pour geneviève' 'Picasso' '4 Juillet 1951', a proof aside from the standard edition of 50 (there were also 6 proofs for the artist and printer), image: 49.4 x 64 cm (19.4 x 25.2 in.), sheet: 49.6 x 65.3 cm (19.5 x 25.7 in.)
Mourlot 144; Bloch 585
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