Pablo Picasso

Irving Penn
1957 (negative), 2000 (print)
Gelatin silver print on paper, selenium toned; mounted to cardstock.
Image and sheet: 26 3/4 x 26 9/16 inches (68 x 67.5 cm); mount: 30 11/16 x 30 1/2 inches (78 x 77.5 cm)
Purchased as the gift of Richard L. Menschel and with the support of The Horace W. Goldsmith Fund for Americana and The Margaret T. Morris Fund.
2007.69
Provenance: 
Irving Penn.
Inscription: 
Verso of mount: signed and stamped in black ink, center left [encircled]: Irving Penn / IRVING PENN; inscribed in graphite, upper right: PDH; stamped and inscribed in black ink, upper left: REF. 8383; inscribed in black ink, upper center [in rectangular border]: PICASSO (A) / CANNES, FRANCE / NOV. 1957; stamped and inscribed in black ink, center: PHOTOGRAPH BY IRVING PENN / Copyright © 1960 by Irving Penn / Courtesy of Vogue / Not to be reproduced without / written permission of / photographer and / The Condé Nast Publications Inc.; inscribed in black ink, center left [below artist's signature]: Print made Feb. 2000. / I. P.; stamped and inscribed in black ink, center right: SIGNED, SILVER PRINTS OF / THIS NEGATIVE NOT EXCEEDING 30. / I.P.; stamped and inscribed in black ink, lower right: There are also in existence 45 prints / of this negative in platinum metals. / I. P.; stamped in black ink, lower left: TONED IN SELENIUM.
Notes: 

Edition of 30. Positioned between the collar of his embroidered bullfighter's cape and the wide brim of his hat, Picasso's great "cyclopean" eye stares out from the center of the frame. Recalling this encounter, Penn declared, "A great presence, deeply aware of his own image, he peered silently at the reflection of his head in the camera's lens, occasionally altering the attitude."

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