During his lifetime Picasso created approximately 2000 prints in a variety of media ranging from etching, drypoint, lithograph, to linocut. For the first 40 years of his artistic career Picasso concentrated almost exclusively on intaglio processes.
The 100 remarkable intaglio prints that make up the Vollard Suite are generally regarded as his finest achievements in printmaking. Made in the 1930s, the prints depict five main themes: The Battle of Love, the Sculptors’ Studio, Rembrandt, the Minotaur and the Blind Minotaur that explore the relationship between the artist and his creativity, and the artist and his model. The set of prints is named after the prominent French art dealer and publisher Ambroise Vollard. The set also includes 27 prints on disparate themes including 3 portraits of Vollard.
Picasso’s preoccupation with neo-classical and classical subjects lends homogeneity and consistency to the series, which is evident when the set is viewed in its entirety.
The Vollard Suite is a testament to Picasso’s talent and ingenuity as an artist, and his technical brilliance as an engraver. |