Luncheon on the Grass

1962

after Edouard Manet

(French, 1832–1883)

Spain, 20th century

color linoleum cut

Image: 52.9 x 63.6 cm (20 13/16 x 25 1/16 in.)

Gift of Drs. Joan and Brian Pengilly in memory of Winifred H. Pengilly 1996.318

Catalogue raisonné: Bloch V.486.1397

Impression: 4

Location: not on view

This artwork is known to be under copyright.

Description

As early as 1951, while living in the south of France, Picasso made annual linoleum-cut posters for the expositions and bullfights at Vallauris. In 1958, at the age of 77, Picasso produced his first great multicolored linoleum cut, Portrait of a Lady, after Cranach, the Younger, for which he cut six linoleum blocks, one for each color. These were then carefully registered as they were printed. Finding this a laborious process, Picasso devised an entirely new method of color printing for linoleum cuts, which he used for over 100 prints by 1963. Using a single block and printing the colors one by one from the lightest to the darkest, Picasso cut out more of the design with each color. For Luncheon on the Grass he first cut away the few areas that were to remain white and the entire edition of 50 impressions was printed in beige ink. Next, the areas to remain beige were cut away, and the block was inked with brown, which was printed over the beige. Finally, proceeding in this manner, the black was printed.