Estate of the artist
Marina Picasso (acquired by 1981)
Galerie Jan Krugier, Geneva (acquired from the above)
Acquired from the 𝐆above by the 𝔉present owner in 1999

Venice, Centro di Cultura di Palazzo Grassi, Picasso: opere dal 1895 al 1971 dalla Collezione Marina Picasso, 1981, no. 155-164/18, illustrated in the catalogue
Munich, Haus der Kunst; Cologne, Josef-Haubrich-Kunsthalle; Frankfurt, Städelsches Kunstinstitut & Zurich, Kunsthaus, Pablo Picasso, Sammlung Marina Picasso, 1981-82, no. 138/18, illustrated in the catalogue
Yomiuri Shimbun Sha, The Art Museums Association, Pablo Picasso: Collection de Marina Picasso, 1986-87, no. D-56, illustrated in the catalogue
Geneva, Galerie Jan Krugier, Ingres & Picasso, 1993
New York, Jan Krugier Gallery, A Tribute to Pablo Picasso, 1993-94

Arnold & Marc Glimcher (ed.), Je suis le cahier; The Sketchbooks of Pablo Picasso, New York, 1986, no. 81, catalogued p. 323
The Picasso Project, Picasso's Paintings, Watercolors, Drawings and Sculpture. Neoclassicism II, 1922-1924, San Francisco, 1996, no. 23-111, illustrated p. 147

Executed on cream wove paper, not laid down, hinged to the mount in the top two corners. Apart from some scattered spots of light foxing, mainly to the upper left quadrant, and some very light time staining to the extreme edges, this work is in very good condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Picasso's classical period ink drawings are amongst the finest examples of his exceptional draftsmanship. The present work stems from a sketchbook of several similar works along the same theme; of which each piece shows the most astonishing confidence of line and sureness of touch. In 1923 Picasso championned the 'return to order' of the neo-classical and embraced the purist colours, lines and compositions of artists such as Ingres and even Poussin. This 1920s style enabled Picasso to show his astonishing talents as a draftsman, as seen in the present work.

Although the 'return to order' was instigated by Jean Cocteau, amongst others, after the Great War, Picasso had actually been working in the classical style from as early as 1914. Indeed some of the earlier drawings show small Cubist studi♍es with neo-classical portraits of bathers on the same sheet. The artist's studies of bathers are synonymous with the period and the present work cou🐻ld well be a figure study of a number of his key paintings from 1923. It is a perfect example of Picasso's exceptional draftsmanship and stunning clarity of composition.