Histoire Naturelle
Print
1942 (printed), 1936 (made)
1942 (printed), 1936 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This work was commissioned by the most famous publisher working in Paris in the early 20th century, Ambroise Vollard. He commissioned some of the most brilliant artists of the period. The Histoire Naturelle (Natural History) written by the 18th-century French naturalist Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon, was scientifically obsolete by the 20th century, but had become a classic of French literature with its attempt to codify the natural world, often by means of allegory. Picasso's illustrations follow the spirit of the text: many of them are quirky and humorous and show anthropomorphic tendencies, as in this somewhat vacant-looking ostrich.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Titles |
|
Materials and techniques | Sugar aquatint on paper |
Brief description | 'La Loup', sugar aquatint by Pablo Picasso, 1936, from a series illustrating the Comte de Buffon's 'Histoire Naturelle', published by Fabiani, Paris, 1942. |
Dimensions |
|
Object history | Illustration to Buffon's 'Histoire Naturelle', drawn on the plate by Picasso, etched in sugar aquatint by Roger Lacourière and published by Fabiani, Paris, 1942 |
Subject depicted | |
Literary reference | Histoire Naturelle, by Georges Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon |
Summary | This work was commissioned by the most famous publisher working in Paris in the early 20th century, Ambroise Vollard. He commissioned some of the most brilliant artists of the period. The Histoire Naturelle (Natural History) written by the 18th-century French naturalist Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon, was scientifically obsolete by the 20th century, but had become a classic of French literature with its attempt to codify the natural world, often by means of allegory. Picasso's illustrations follow the spirit of the text: many of them are quirky and humorous and show anthropomorphic tendencies, as in this somewhat vacant-looking ostrich. |
Bibliographic references |
|
Collection | |
Accession number | E.206-1947 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
Record created | June 30, 2009 |
Record URL |
Download as: JSON