Bacchanale I: Avec mere et enfant

Picasso’s innovative approach to linoleum printing revived the medium. The artist launched many exhibitions of his linocuts in the small town of Vallauris. Picasso had a press made there, weighing more than 2 tons, to print his linoleum blocks. The press was retired soon after Picasso left, citing its size and power as “too dangerous to use”. To this day, Arnera has not revealed their secret to printing a linocut print in a single pass. Printed in Arnera Studio. This sought-after Pablo Picasso Linocut image is based on the original edition. Picasso, who started making linoleum cuts during the late 1950’s, personally approved and oversaw this rare 1962 edition. The 1950s originals of this suite were signed by the artist in and sold in an edition of only 50 pieces. Then in 1962 Picasso and the Louise Leiris Gallery cooperated with the production of this rare (after the original) linocut suite, meticulously recreated in reduced size. The 1962 after set are superior in quality, having been designed as actual linocuts and printed on heavy wove paper with a richly textured printed surface.