Pablo Picasso, Portrait of Pierre Reverdy, from Foam of the Sea, 1925 (after)

1925

This exquisite lithograph after Pablo Picasso (1881–1973), titled Deux danseurs (Two Dancers), from the album Sources du vent 1915–1929, avec un portrait par Picasso (Sources of the Wind 1915–1929, with a Portrait by Picasso), originates from the 1934 edition published by Serge Lifar, Destin d’un danseur, Paris, and printed by Ateliers Helpe, Paris, August 6, 1934. Deux danseurs (Two Dancers) reflects Picassos fascination with rhythm, movement, and the human form, themes that resonated deeply with Serge Lifar—the legendary Ballets Russes dancer and choreographer. This lithograph captures the grace and dynamism of dance through interlocking, simplified forms that express motion and harmony with a sense of lyrical abstraction. Created at the height of Picassos collaboration with the worlds of music, theater, and dance, the work exemplifies his mastery of translating bodily rhythm into visual poetry. Executed as a lithograph on velin Saint-Vincent-de-Blanzat des Papeteries Navarre paper, this work measures 11.22 x 9.06 inches. Signed in the plate and unnumbered as issued. The edition exemplifies the fine craftsmanship of Ateliers Helpe, Paris, under the direction of Serge Lifar. Artwork Details: Artist: After Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) Title: Deux danseurs (Two Dancers), from the album Sources du vent 1915–1929, avec un portrait par Picasso (Sources of the Wind 1915–1929, with a Portrait by Picasso), 1934 Medium: Lithograph on velin Saint-Vincent-de-Blanzat des Papeteries Navarre paper Dimensions: 11.22 x 9.06 inches (28.5 x 23 cm) Inscription: Signed in the plate and unnumbered as issued Date: 1934 Publisher: Serge Lifar, Destin d’un danseur, Paris Printer: Ateliers Helpe, Paris Catalogue Raisonne Reference: Horodisch, Abraham. Pablo Picasso: The Illustrated Books. Catalogue Raisonne. Amsterdam: Hertzberger & Co., 1956, illustration D10. Condition: Well preserved, consistent with age and medium Provenance: From the album Sources du vent 1915–1929, published by Serge Lifar, Destin d’un danseur, Paris, and printed by Ateliers Helpe, Paris, August 6, 1934 Notes: Excerpted from the album (translated from French): This volume, published in the in-4° square format, was completed and printed on behalf of Editions Bernard Grasset, on August 6, 1934, by it has been drawn from this album, LXXX examples on velin d'Arches, numbered from I a LXX, and H.C. I to H.C. X. In addition, MDCCCL examples on Velin Saint-Vincent-de-Blanzat des Papeteries Navarre, numbered I to MDCL; and press examples, I to CC in Mayenne (France). The boards were drawn in phototype by les Ateliers Helpe, 22, Rue Legendre, in Paris. About the Publication: Sources du vent 1915–1929, avec un portrait par Picasso (Sources of the Wind 1915–1929, with a Portrait by Picasso), published in 1934 by Serge Lifar, marks a key collaboration between literature, dance, and visual art in interwar France. Conceived as a tribute to the spirit of artistic renewal that followed World War I, the album reflects the synthesis of movement, poetry, and design that characterized Lifar’s career as both dancer and choreographer. The volume was printed at the distinguished Ateliers Helpe, known for their mastery in phototype and fine lithographic processes, and issued under the supervision of Editions Bernard Grasset in Paris. Produced in a carefully structured edition on luxurious paper stocks—including rare proofs on velin d’Arches and Japon—the album unites visual and poetic elements into a single expression of rhythm and grace. Picasso’s contribution, Deux danseurs, embodies the collaboration between visual art and performance, translating the vitality of dance into elegant, fluid form. The project stands as one of the most sophisticated examples of the artist-book tradition of the 1930s, capturing the synergy between the visual and performing arts that defined Parisian modernism. 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, Picassos 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 USD at Christies, New York, on May 11, 2015, affirming Picassos enduring legacy as one of the most influential and valuable artists in history. Pablo Picasso Deux danseurs, Picasso Sources du vent, Picasso Serge Lifar, Picasso Ateliers...

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