This print is a reproduction of the renowned masterpiece by Pablo Picasso, "Women of Algiers." Between 1954 and 1963, Picasso embarked on a series of variations inspired by Old Master paintings, including reworkings of works by artists such as Édouard Manet, Diego Velázquez, and Jacques-Louis David. His first series in this endeavor was centered around Eugène Delacroix's "Women of Algiers," a painting created in 1834. Picasso produced 15 oil paintings based on Delacroix's work during a prolific period in the winter of 1954-55.

Picasso's fascination with Delacroix's masterpiece had been brewing for some time. He had created a sketch version as early as 1940 and regularly visited the Louvre during the decade to study Delacroix's painting. However, Picasso's variations were only loosely based on the original. In this particular oil sketch, Picasso distorted the forms of the women seated in the foreground, contorting their bodies into impossible positions, presenting both front and back views simultaneously.

The emphasis on the odalisque in this work can be linked to Picasso's admiration for Henri Matisse, who frequently depicted women in exotic costumes. Picasso was also influenced by the geopolitical context of the time, including the uprising in the French colony of Algeria, which eventually led to the country's independence. In "Women of Algiers," Picasso blended these various elements into a large-scale painting of exceptional quality, exploring the nature of color, line, and composition.

In 2015, Picasso's "The Women of Algiers" achieved a historic milestone by setting a new world record for the most expensive artwork sold at auction, reaching a price of $179 million in New York. It held this record until 2017 when it was surpassed by Leonardo da Vinci's "Salvator Mundi."

Details:
Artist: (After) Pablo Picasso
Title: "Women of Algiers"
Medium: Lithograph
Edition: Limited Edition Lithograph. Includes a certificate of authenticity. Estate signed, part of Collection Domain Picasso.
Dimensions: 24 x 33 cm
Condition Report: In good condition
Number: Pencil-signed in the lower left corner

About the artist:
Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) was a Spanish-born French artist celebrated for his contributions to painting, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, and stage design. Trained by his father, a drawing professor, Picasso exhibited his first works at the age of 13. After settling in Paris permanently in 1904, he transitioned from his predominantly blue-toned "Blue Period" (1901–04) to the warmer tones of his "Rose Period" (1904–06).

One of Picasso's groundbreaking works, "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon" (1907), was notable for its bold treatment of the female form and its use of mask-like faces influenced by African art. He then entered the Cubist movement in collaboration with Georges Braque, introducing a new reality in art that broke from Renaissance traditions like perspective and illusion.

Throughout his career, Picasso explored various art forms and themes, including Surrealism and political subjects such as "Guernica" (1937), which condemned the horrors of war. In his later years, he joined the Communist Party and continued to create art, including sculptures, ceramics, lithographs, and variations on works by earlier artists. Picasso's artistic journey significantly shaped the development of modern art in the 20th century, spanning nearly 80 years of creativity.