PICASSO, Pablo (1881-1973) - BUFFON, Georges-Louis Leclerc, count of (1707-1788). Original etchings for texts by Buffon. Paris: Martin Fabiani, 1942. Picasso illustrates Buffon - copy in a beautiful animal binding. It was in February 1936, at the request of the publisher Ambroise Vollard, and in line with their collaboration on Balzac's Unknown Masterpiece that Picasso began making engravings to illustrate extracts from Natural History. by Buffon. On the advice of the doucier Roger Lacourière, he uses the technique of sugar aquatint, which gives him wider ranges of gray. The work took time to complete: when Ambroise Vollard died in a car accident in the summer of 1939, it was still not completed. The project was taken up by his partner Martin Fabiani, who finally published the book in May 1942. One of 135 copies on Vidalon vellum, this one number 164. Goeppert-Cramer, Picasso, n ° 37; Picasso and the artist's book, p. 56 and ill. 44. In-folio (366 x 277 mm). 31 original full-page etchings by Pablo Picasso (sugar aquatint, etching and drypoint) (small marginal tear on the first page of the text “La Mère Poulle”, some dark wetting on the first white sheet). Binding signed by Jacqueline Minstin in pine green morocco with, on the covers, decoration of deer heads in cold and gilded fillets, gilded letter on the smooth back, gilt edges on witnesses, chocolate morocco lining and guard, green morocco frame tree, blankets and back preserved. Shirt with golden letter and case (back of shirt insolated).
