This exquisite lithograph after Pablo Picasso (1881–1973), titled Le Taureau (The Bull), from the folio Picasso, Eaux-fortes originales pour des textes de Buffon, Histoire naturelle, Suite des prints des eaux-fortes de Pablo Picasso pour illustrer les textes de Buffon (Original Etchings for the Texts of Buffon, Natural History: Suite of the Prints of the Etchings by Pablo Picasso to Illustrate the Texts of Buffon), originates from the 1970 edition published and printed by Production Edito-Service S.A., Le Grand-Saconnex, Canton of Geneve, with the authorization and permission of Martin Fabiani, Editeur, Paris, 1970. The composition reflects Picassos mastery of line, wit, and natural form, harmonizing artistic imagination with the scientific and poetic spirit of Buffon’s zoological texts.
Executed as a lithograph on papier bouffant des Papeteries de Casteljoux paper, this work measures 12.99 x 9.84 inches. Unsigned and unnumbered as issued. The edition exemplifies the refined craftsmanship of Production Edito-Service S.A., Le Grand-Saconnex.
Artwork Details:
Artist: After Pablo Picasso (1881–1973)
Title: Le Taureau (The Bull), from the folio Picasso, Eaux-fortes originales pour des textes de Buffon, Histoire naturelle, Suite des prints des eaux-fortes de Pablo Picasso pour illustrer les textes de Buffon (Original Etchings for the Texts of Buffon, Natural History: Suite of the Prints of the Etchings by Pablo Picasso to Illustrate the Texts of Buffon)
Medium: Lithograph on papier bouffant des Papeteries de Casteljoux paper
Dimensions: 12.99 x 9.84 inches (33 x 25 cm)
Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered as issued
Date: 1970
Publisher: Production Edito-Service S.A., Le Grand-Saconnex, Canton of Geneve, with the authorization of Martin Fabiani, Editeur, Paris
Printer: Production Edito-Service S.A., Le Grand-Saconnex, Canton of Geneve
Condition: Well preserved, consistent with age and medium
Provenance: From the folio Picasso, Eaux-fortes originales pour des textes de Buffon, Histoire naturelle, Suite des prints des eaux-fortes de Pablo Picasso pour illustrer les textes de Buffon (Original Etchings for the Texts of Buffon, Natural History: Suite of the Prints of the Etchings by Pablo Picasso to Illustrate the Texts of Buffon), published and printed by Production Edito-Service S.A., Le Grand-Saconnex, Canton of Geneve, 1970
Notes:
Excerpted from the folio (translated from French): Picasso, eaux-fortes originales pour des textes de Buffon. At the expense and care of Martin Fabiani, this book was completed to be printed in Paris on May XXVI MCM XLII. Pablo Picasso's original XXXI eaux-fortes were drawn by R. Lacouriere and the printing of texts by M. Fequet and P. Baudier. Justification of the draw. CCXXVI examples. N°1. — single example on papier verge Ancien with a suite on papier Ancien bleute; II to VI. V examples on Japon Super-Nacre with a sequel on Chine; VII to XXXVI. XXX examples on Japon Imperial with a suite on Chine; XXXVII to XCI. LV examples on velin of Montval; XCII to CCXXVI. CXXXV examples on velin de Vidalon. This second edition, 25 x 33 cm, was created with the permission of Martin Fabiani, publisher in Paris, on papier bouffant des Papeteries de Casteljoux.
About the Publication:
The 1970 edition of Picasso, Eaux-fortes originales pour des textes de Buffon, Histoire naturelle, Suite des prints des eaux-fortes de Pablo Picasso pour illustrer les textes de Buffon (Original Etchings for the Texts of Buffon, Natural History: Suite of the Prints of the Etchings by Pablo Picasso to Illustrate the Texts of Buffon), published by Production Edito-Service S.A. of Geneva with the permission of Martin Fabiani, revisited one of Picasso’s most elegant and intellectual collaborations. The original 1942 Paris edition paired Picassos thirty-one etchings with the naturalist writings of Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon, uniting art and science in a meditation on the beauty of the animal world. This authorized 1970 suite preserved the integrity of the original concept while making it accessible to a broader audience, rendered on fine papier bouffant des Papeteries de Casteljoux. Each image reveals Picassos deft, economical line—transforming Buffon’s zoological observations into lyrical visual poetry. The folio stands as a testament to Picasso’s reverence for nature, intellect, and the printed page, bridging Enlightenment knowledge and modern artistic genius.
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 Christie's, New York, on May 11, 2015, affirming Picassos enduring legacy as one of the most influential and valuable artists in history.
Pablo
Picasso Le Taureau...