Pablo Picasso, Head of a Young Man IV, from Mystification, 1954 (after)
1954

$1,996List Price

About the Item

This exquisite lithograph after Pablo Picasso (1881–1973), titled Tete de jeune homme IV (Head of a Young Man IV), from the album Mystification ou l'Histoire des portraits (Mystification or The History of Portraits), originates from the 1954 edition published by Les Editeurs francais reunis, Paris, and printed by Mourlot Freres, Paris, 1954. Tete de jeune homme IV (Head of a Young Man IV) reflects Picasso’s fascination with the human form and psychological portraiture during the postwar period, a time when his work oscillated between classical calm and expressive modernism. With its dynamic linework and sculptural simplicity, this composition distills the artist’s lifelong mastery of drawing into an image of timeless vitality, merging Cubist abstraction with the elegance of neoclassical proportion. The print exemplifies Picasso’s ability to reimagine portraiture as both a psychological study and a formal exploration, combining vitality, rhythm, and introspection in equal measure. Executed as a lithograph on velin pur fil Lafuma Navarre paper, this work measures 10.63 x 7.48 inches. Unsigned and unnumbered as issued. The edition exemplifies the refined craftsmanship of Mourlot Freres, Paris, under the direction of Les Editeurs francais reunis, Paris. Artwork Details: Artist: After Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) Title: Tete de jeune homme IV (Head of a Young Man IV), from the album Mystification ou l'Histoire des portraits (Mystification or The History of Portraits), 1954 Medium: Lithograph on velin pur fil Lafuma Navarre paper Dimensions: 10.63 x 7.48 inches (27 x 19 cm) Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered as issued Date: 1954 Publisher: Les Editeurs francais reunis, Paris Printer: Mourlot Freres, Paris Catalogue raisonne reference: Horodisch, Abraham. Pablo Picasso: The Illustrated Books. Basilius Presse, 1956, illustration B19. Condition: Well preserved, consistent with age and medium Provenance: From the album Mystification ou l'Histoire des portraits, published by Les Editeurs francais reunis, Paris, and printed by Mourlot Freres, Paris, 1954 Notes: Excerpted from the album (translated from French): This edition, with IV drawings by Pablo Picasso, has been printed in DXXX examples, including V examples on Japon nacre, marked from A to E, XCV examples on velin d'Arches, numbered in roman numerals from I to XCV, and CDXXX examples on velin pur fil Lafuma, numbered from I to CD, and from CDI to CDXXX for the XXX out-of-commerce examples. About the Publication: Mystification ou l'Histoire des portraits (Mystification or The History of Portraits), published in 1954 by Les Editeurs francais reunis and printed by Mourlot Freres, stands among the most distinctive illustrated volumes of Picasso’s mid-century book collaborations. The publication pairs the artist’s lithographic portraits with text that explores the nature of representation, perception, and artistic identity—a fitting theme for Picasso, whose career was defined by perpetual reinvention and the deconstruction of visual truth. The four lithographs created for the volume reveal his mastery of line and his fascination with the mutable character of the human face, distilled through expressive gesture and minimal form. Printed on fine papers including Japon nacre, velin d’Arches, and velin pur fil Lafuma Navarre, the edition epitomizes the exceptional production standards of postwar French livre d’artiste publishing. Each image reflects the dialogue between word and image that defined Picasso’s lifelong engagement with poetry, literature, and visual experimentation. Today, the album remains a prized example of Picasso’s genius in uniting literature and art, a hallmark of his enduring legacy in the tradition of the illustrated book. 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 USD 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. After Pablo Picasso Tete de jeune homme IV, Picasso Mystification ou l'Histoire des portraits, Picasso Mourlot Freres, Picasso Les Editeurs francais reunis, Picasso collectible lithograph.

Creation Year:
1954
Dimensions:
Height: 10.63 in (27.01 cm)Width: 7.48 in (19 cm)
Medium:
Lithograph
Movement & Style:
Modern
After:
Pablo Picasso (1881-1973, Spanish)
Period:
1950-1959
Condition:
Gallery Location:
Southampton, NY
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU1465215493862

Category

1930s Modern Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching

Pablo Picasso
Polyxène, Fille de Priam, est égorgée sur la Tombe d'Achille, 1930

$2,964

H 12.37 in W 8.82 in D 0.04 in

Picasso, Modèle et Grande Tête Sculptée (after)

By Pablo Picasso

Located in Fairfield, CT

Artist: After Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Title: Modèle et Grande Tête Sculptée (after Bloch 170) Year: 1992 Medium: Reproduced from the original edition using the grain Autotype halft...

Category

1990s Cubist Nude Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Picasso, Modèle et Grande Tête Sculptée (after), 1992

$2,920 Sale Price

20% Off

H 18 in W 12.75 in

Peintre dessinant et modèle nu au chapeau

By Pablo Picasso

Located in Naples, Florida

This wonderful Linocut was produced 1956 at the height of Picasso's talent. It is in excellent original condition with its period frame. It is signed by the artist in pencil and numb...

Category