This exquisite engraving by Pablo Picasso (1881–1973), titled Le Centaur Picador (The Centaur Picador), from Deux Contes, Le Centaure picador, Le Crepuscule d'un faune (Two Tales, The Centaur Picador, The Twilight of a Faun), from Dos Contes, El centaure, picador, El capvespre d'un faune (Two Tales, The Centaur, Picador, The Twilight of a Faun), originates from the 1947 edition published by Editorial Albor, Paris and Barcelona; printed by Atelier Lacouriere-Frelaut, Paris, Summer 1947. This compelling composition reflects Picasso’s mastery of intaglio technique, where incisive line, dramatic contrast, and expressive distortion converge to translate mythological subject matter into a powerful and poetic graphic language.
Executed as a drypoint engraving on velin du Lana Papiers Speciaux pur fil paper, this work measures 13 x 10.0062 inches (33.02 x 25.42 cm). Unsigned and unnumbered as issued. The impression exemplifies the technical excellence and material sensitivity characteristic of Atelier Lacouriere-Frelaut’s celebrated editions.
Artwork Details:
Artist: Pablo Picasso (1881–1973)
Title: Le Centaur Picador (The Centaur Picador), from Deux Contes, Le Centaure picador, Le Crepuscule d'un faune (Two Tales, The Centaur Picador, The Twilight of a Faun), from Dos Contes, El centaure, picador, El capvespre d'un faune (Two Tales, The Centaur, Picador, The Twilight of a Faun)
Medium: Drypoint engraving on velin du Lana Papiers Speciaux pur fil paper
Dimensions: 13 x 10.0062 inches (33.02 x 25.42 cm)
Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered as issued
Date: 1947
Publisher: Editorial Albor, Paris and Barcelona
Printer: Atelier Lacouriere-Frelaut, Paris
Catalogue raisonne references: Bloch, Georges. Pablo Picasso: Catalogue of the Printed Graphic Work 1904–1967. Kornfeld & Klipstein, 1968, illustration 472-475; Cramer, Patrick. Pablo Picasso, The Illustrated Books: Catalogue Raisonne. Patrick Cramer, 1983, illustration 45.
Condition: Well preserved, consistent with age and medium
Provenance: From the folio Dos Contes, El centaure, picador, El capvespre d'un faune (Two Tales, The Centaur, Picador, The Twilight of a Faun), 1947
Notes:
Excerpted from the folio (translated from French), This text, presented in the translation of Jaume Canyameres, illustrated and decorated by Pablo Picasso, has been printed in CCL examples, of which XX with a suite, numbered I to XX, the others being numbered XXI to CCL. Printing was completed in Paris in the summer of 1947, under the direction of Henri Jonquieres. Typography by Coulouma. Titles and initials printed by Hourdebaigt and Crampe. The plates were printed on the presses of Roger Lacouriere.
About the Publication:
Dos Contes, El centaure, picador, El capvespre d'un faune (Two Tales, The Centaur, Picador, The Twilight of a Faun), published in 1947 by Editorial Albor in Paris and Barcelona, is a significant illustrated edition that reflects Pablo Picasso’s sustained engagement with literary narrative, classical mythology, and the livre d’artiste tradition in the immediate postwar period. The publication brings together text translated by Jaume Canyameres with a suite of original engravings by Picasso, exploring themes drawn from ancient myth, pastoral imagery, and the enduring symbolism of the faun and centaur. Produced through a close collaboration between artist, publisher, typographers, and master printers, the edition demonstrates the high level of craftsmanship characteristic of Parisian printmaking workshops of the time. Typography executed by Coulouma, with titles and initials printed by Hourdebaigt and Crampe, integrates harmoniously with Picasso’s imagery, while the engravings themselves were printed on the presses of Roger Lacouriere, one of the most important intaglio printers associated with Picasso’s graphic work. Issued in a carefully structured edition with examples including additional suites, the publication exemplifies the collaborative and interdisciplinary nature of mid twentieth century illustrated editions. Today, Dos Contes remains an important contribution to Picasso’s graphic oeuvre, embodying his ability to fuse literary inspiration with technical mastery and expressive innovation.
About the Artist:
Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) was a Spanish painter, sculptor, printmaker, and ceramicist whose extraordinary vision revolutionized modern art and defined the visual language of the 20th century. A child prodigy from Malaga, Spain, Picasso’s career spanned more than seven decades and encompassed an astonishing range of styles and innovations—from the melancholic Blue and romantic Rose periods to his pioneering invention of Cubism with Georges Braque, which shattered conventional notions of perspective and form. Influenced by the bold expressiveness of El Greco, the structure of Cezanne, and the vitality of African and Iberian sculpture, Picasso became a central figure of the Paris avant-garde, working in creative dialogue with contemporaries such as Henri Matisse, Alexander Calder, Alberto Giacometti, Salvador Dali, Joan Miro, Wassily Kandinsky, Marcel Duchamp, and Man Ray. His insatiable experimentation extended across painting, drawing, printmaking, ceramics, and sculpture, forever expanding the boundaries of artistic expression. A master of reinvention, Picasso profoundly shaped generations of artists who followed—from Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, David Hockney, and Jean-Michel Basquiat to Jeff Koons and Banksy—cementing his status as a timeless cultural icon whose works remain among the most sought after worldwide. His landmark painting Les Femmes d'Alger (Version "O") achieved a record-breaking sale of $179,365,000 at Christie's, New York, on May 11, 2015, affirming Picasso's enduring legacy as one of the most influential and valuable artists in history.
Pablo Picasso Le Centaur Picador The Centaur Picador 1947 engraving Lacouriere Frelaut Lana modern master print.
