Pablo Picasso (1881–1973)
Toros y Toreros – Deluxe Edition No. 69/150
Cercle d’Art, Paris, 1961
A highly desirable deluxe example of Picasso’s celebrated Toros y Toreros, one of the most important and visually compelling bullfighting publications of his mature period. Produced by Cercle d’Art in Paris in 1961, the work combines Picasso’s lifelong fascination with the corrida with the literary contribution of the legendary matador Luis Miguel Dominguín and an essay by Georges Boudaille.
This luxury edition belongs to the limited deluxe printing of 150 numbered copies, each accompanied by an original lithograph signed in pencil by Pablo Picasso and a complete suite of sixteen colour lithographs on Arches wove paper. The present example is No. 69, with matching numbering throughout the publication and accompanying portfolio.
The original signed lithograph, dated 7 February 1961 within the image, is one of Picasso’s most evocative bullfighting compositions. Executed with remarkable economy of line, it captures the movement and atmosphere of the arena through a dynamic arrangement of horsemen, bulls, picadors and spectators. The work was printed by Fernand Mourlot, Picasso’s principal lithographic collaborator, and forms the artistic centerpiece of the deluxe edition.
The publication reproduces sixteen drawings from Picasso’s sketchbooks of 1957–1959, documenting his continuing exploration of the themes of bullfighting, Spanish tradition, spectacle and movement. These images reveal the artist’s extraordinary ability to distill complex scenes into expressive, spontaneous marks while maintaining a powerful sense of rhythm and drama.
The deluxe edition was issued in a specially designed format consisting of:
Original illustrated book (Toros y Toreros), 1961.
Original signed lithograph by Pablo Picasso.
Complete suite of sixteen colour lithographs on Arches paper.
Original publisher’s portfolio.
Original presentation case.
Matching edition number 69 throughout.
Catalogue References
Cramer 112
Bloch 1012
Mourlot 345
Reuße 785
The deluxe issue of Toros y Toreros occupies a distinguished position within Picasso’s illustrated-book production. Unlike the widely distributed trade editions, the deluxe version was produced in a strictly limited edition and included an original signed lithograph created specifically for collectors. As a result, complete examples retaining the signed lithograph, suite, portfolio and matching numbering are increasingly sought after by collectors of Picasso prints, illustrated books and twentieth-century bibliophile editions.
The present copy, No. 69/150, represents an exceptional example of one of Picasso’s most iconic bullfighting publications, uniting original graphic work, deluxe production quality and direct participation by the artist within a single complete collector’s ensemble.
