Picasso's Le Goût du Bonheur, Limited Edition

Pablo Picasso. LE GOÛT DU BONHEUR: A SUITE OF HAPPY, PLAYFUL, AND EROTIC DRAWINGS. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1970. Limited edition, no. 481 of 666 copies (from a total of 1,998 copies published in parallel editions by Éditions Cercle d'Art, Paris and Carl Schünemann Verlag, Bremen). Contents, including introduction by Jean Marcenac and (71) reproductions of Picasso's studio sketchbook drawings, were printed on Arches paper and presented loose, as issued, in linen over boards portfolio, with a matching linen box lettered in orange and black with orange cloth sides and leather snapping strap.

13 3/4 x 11 in.

Private North Carolina Collection

This portfolio includes re-creations of three of Picasso's studio sketchbooks. Three parallel yet separate editions were published, each with 666 copies, with the re-creations printed under Picasso's supervision in the fall of 1970. As stated in the preliminaries, the reproductions "were produced through a unique process that employs the same type of materials as used by the artist, instead of the usual printing inks. Grease crayon, lithographic tusche, lead pencil, and charcoal are among the artist's materials used in making the re-creations in this Album."

Box with light soiling, rubbing to lettering, toning, some fraying and small chips to cloth (mostly at corners), one panel very slightly loose, and wear to interior paper including cracking at edges, small loss and fold at one corner, minor grime, and a small tear; rubbing, creasing, and marks to strap; plates with very rare spot of minor grime and expected offsetting, otherwise portfolio and contents pristine. A beautiful example. Near fine in very good box.