Pablo Picasso & Jean Cocteau – Picasso de 1916 à 1961
Original Artist’s Portfolio, 1962 | Copy No. 10/199 | Hand-Signed by Pablo Picasso and Jean Cocteau | Complete with 24 Original Lithographs
An exceptional, complete and personally signed example of Picasso de 1916 à 1961, an important artist’s portfolio celebrating the friendship and artistic collaboration between two of the most influential figures of twentieth-century art: Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) and Jean Cocteau (1889–1963).
Published in Monaco in 1962 by Éditions du Rocher, the work brings together eleven texts written by Jean Cocteau about Picasso, accompanied by a remarkable series of 24 original lithographs by Pablo Picasso, created specifically for this publication.
The lithographs were printed by the renowned Mourlot workshop, while the typography and production were undertaken by Nebiolo in Turin and Imprimerie Artistique in Monaco.
The present example is Copy No. 10 from the limited edition of 199 numbered copies, printed on Rives pur chiffon à la forme paper and personally signed in pencil by both Pablo Picasso and Jean Cocteau on the original justification page.
Historical Background
The origins of this remarkable collaboration date back to 16 April 1950, when Jean Cocteau approached Picasso with a proposal to illustrate one of his literary works.
Although Picasso initially agreed, the project encountered an unexpected obstacle. When Fernand Mourlot subsequently presented the artist with Cocteau’s earlier Andalusian text, originally published in 1924, Picasso claimed to be unfamiliar with it and requested a copy.
Several days later, when Mourlot attempted to retrieve the book, Picasso reportedly explained that he had misplaced it and offered an original drawing as compensation.
Mourlot later suspected that Picasso had not actually lost the volume, but rather disliked the proposed text and wished to avoid openly disappointing his friend.
The collaboration was consequently postponed for more than a decade.
In 1961, the project was revived by Pierre Bertrand of Éditions du Rocher, who assembled eleven texts by Cocteau devoted to Picasso and again invited the artist to provide illustrations.
Picasso responded with a group of spontaneous drawings executed in lithographic pencil on transfer paper.
These compositions are distinguished by their fluid, economical and highly expressive lines, revealing an artistic dialogue between Picasso’s unmistakable visual vocabulary and Cocteau’s elegant, calligraphic style.
Human profiles, eyes, hands, birds, abstract symbols and playful anthropomorphic figures appear throughout the publication, often interacting directly with Cocteau’s texts.
One particularly characteristic example arose from Cocteau’s request for a cul-de-lampe, the traditional decorative vignette placed at the end of a printed text. Picasso playfully interpreted the expression through the image of an oil lamp transformed into an anthropomorphic figure.
This episode perfectly illustrates the humour, intellectual complicity and creative freedom that characterised the relationship between the two artists.
The Present Example
The present portfolio is explicitly identified on the original justification page as:
“EXEMPLAIRE NUMÉRO 10”
It belongs to the limited edition of 199 numbered copies printed on Rives pur chiffon à la forme, a fine mould-made paper traditionally reserved for important bibliophile publications and original graphic works.
The justification page bears the original handwritten pencil signatures of both:
Pablo Picasso
Jean Cocteau
The presence of both artists’ signatures is particularly significant, documenting their direct participation in the publication.
The portfolio is preserved in loose sheets, as originally issued, and retains its original illustrated wrappers, rigid protective portfolio and matching slipcase.
Original Lithographic Contents
The portfolio is complete with 24 original lithographs by Pablo Picasso, comprising:
- 8 full-page original lithographs.
- 2 double-page original lithographs.
- 13 smaller original lithographic compositions and vignettes integrated into the text.
- 1 additional original lithograph forming the upper wrapper, featuring a distinctive cut-out profile revealing the printed title beneath.
The total comprises 23 original lithographic compositions within the portfolio, together with the original lithographed upper wrapper, giving 24 original lithographs in total.
The two double-page compositions are counted individually as two lithographs, notwithstanding their extension across facing pages.
Printed by Mourlot, these original lithographs display Picasso’s characteristic spontaneity, technical mastery and expressive economy of line.
Their close relationship with Cocteau’s texts makes the publication an especially compelling example of the illustrated artist’s book, in which literature and original graphic art form a unified artistic composition.
Catalogue References
Patrick Cramer: Pablo Picasso: The Illustrated Books, No. 117.
Reuße: Nos. 801–824.
Mourlot: Nos. 359–380, with the lithographed wrapper not separately included in Mourlot’s sequence.
Bloch: Nos. 1037–1070.
The differing catalogue sequences reflect the various compositions, impressions, papers and states documented in the respective catalogues raisonnés.
Publication Details
Artist: Pablo Picasso (1881–1973)
Author: Jean Cocteau (1889–1963)
Title: Picasso de 1916 à 1961
Publisher: Éditions du Rocher, Monaco
Date: 1962
Edition: Original limited edition
Copy: No. 10/199
Signatures: Personally hand-signed in pencil by Pablo Picasso and Jean Cocteau
Paper: Rives pur chiffon à la forme
Lithographic printer: Mourlot
Typography and production: Nebiolo, Turin, and Imprimerie Artistique, Monaco
Format: Approximately 37.7 × 28 cm
Construction: Loose sheets, as originally issued
Illustrations: Complete with 24 original lithographs by Pablo Picasso
Original Presentation
The portfolio retains its complete original publisher’s presentation, consisting of:
- Original green-and-grey lithographed wrappers, incorporating the distinctive cut-out profile.
- Original rigid protective portfolio.
- Black leather-backed spine.
- Gilt-lettered spine title, “COCTEAU * PICASSO”.
- Original grey protective slipcase.
The preservation of the original rigid portfolio together with its matching slipcase is particularly noteworthy, as these protective elements are frequently separated from the contents or lost over time.
Their survival contributes considerably to the bibliographical completeness and desirability of the present example.
Condition
The original rigid outer portfolio and protective slipcase exhibit age-related rubbing, minor edge wear and handling marks, particularly around the spine, corners and extremities.
By contrast, the artist’s portfolio and its internal contents are preserved in exceptionally fine condition.
The original lithographed wrappers, loose sheets, text leaves and lithographic compositions remain remarkably clean, fresh and well preserved, presenting in virtually mint condition.
The complete original contents, including all 24 lithographs and the justification page bearing both artists’ handwritten signatures, are retained.
Significance and Rarity
Picasso de 1916 à 1961 represents an important artistic and literary collaboration between two major personalities of twentieth-century European culture.
Its significance lies not only in the original lithographs created by Picasso, but also in the unusual dialogue between his visual imagination and Cocteau’s literary reflections.
The present example is particularly desirable for its combination of the early copy number 10/199, original pencil signatures of both artists, complete series of 24 original lithographs, fine Rives paper and preserved original publisher’s presentation.
A highly collectible and exceptionally well-preserved signed artist’s portfolio, offering a remarkable opportunity to acquire an important work documenting the friendship and creative collaboration of Pablo Picasso and Jean Cocteau.
