Pablo Picasso & Ramón Reventós
Dos Contes (1947)
Cramer 44 | Bloch 468–471 | Copy No. 190/250
Published in Paris in 1947 under the direction of Henri Jonquières, Dos Contes is one of the most distinctive and visually striking illustrated portfolios created by Pablo Picasso during the post-war period. Produced for the Catalan texts El Centaure Picador and El Capvespre d’un Faune by writer Ramón Reventós, the work occupies a special place within Picasso’s editorial oeuvre as one of his earliest major illustrated publications connected to Catalan literature.
The portfolio contains four original burin engravings by Pablo Picasso, printed by the legendary master printer Roger Lacourière, whose collaboration with Picasso resulted in many of the artist’s most celebrated graphic works. These engravings, catalogued as Bloch 468–471, explore themes that would remain central to Picasso's mythology-inspired imagery: centaurs, fauns, classical antiquity, and the relationship between man, nature, and imagination.
Printed in a strictly limited edition of 250 copies on Vélin de Lana paper, only the first twenty examples were issued with additional suites of the engravings, while the remaining 230 copies, including the present example, were individually numbered. This copy is numbered 190/250.
What truly distinguishes Dos Contes from almost every other Picasso illustrated publication is its extraordinary presentation. Rather than a conventional binding, the portfolio is housed between two original solid wooden boards, connected by silk ties and decorated with a hand-drawn title design executed after Picasso’s own calligraphy. This remarkable construction transforms the work from a simple illustrated publication into a sculptural art object, blurring the boundary between book, portfolio and collectible design piece.
The survival of these wooden covers in well-preserved condition is particularly significant. Because of the natural movement of the wood over time, many surviving examples display warping, staining, pressure marks or transfer damage affecting both the covers and the interior contents. The present copy has benefited from long-term protection within its original wrapping and retains an unusually fresh appearance, preserving the visual impact intended by the original publishers.
Today, Dos Contes is regarded as one of the most recognizable and desirable examples among Picasso’s illustrated portfolios. Combining original engravings, a highly limited edition, exceptional craftsmanship and one of the most unusual bindings of the twentieth century, it represents a remarkable fusion of literature, printmaking and artistic design.
Technical Details
Artist: Pablo Picasso (1881–1973)
Author: Ramón Reventós
Title: Dos Contes
Date: 1947
Medium: Portfolio with 4 original burin engravings
Printer: Roger Lacourière, Paris
Paper: Vélin de Lana
Edition: 250 copies
Copy Number: 190/250
Catalogue Raisonné References: Cramer 44; Bloch 468–471
Original solid wood covers with silk ties
Complete example retaining its original presentation format
A rare and highly decorative Picasso portfolio, celebrated not only for its original engravings but also for its iconic wooden covers, which rank among the most distinctive designs found in any twentieth-century artist’s book.
