Pablo Picasso Le faune (The Faun), 1958 captivates us immediately, with wide, dark eyes that draw us in. The face of the faun is gentle, and placid, yet there are emotional depths within in that we can start to grasp through his eyes. Picasso crowns his faun with a wreath, signaling his youth and masculine beauty. His beard and hair are tousled, created with quick strokes that make our faun look wild. We are reminded in this depiction that fauns, a favorite subject of Picasso’s, are deeply connected to forest and animal spirits. We can imagine the earthy smelling and inviting woods that lay beyond our faun. Flecks of blue to the side of the fauns face bring more color to the work, enlivening an otherwise dark image. The aquatint works well to mix the colors, creating a hazy and mythical atmosphere.

Picasso portrayed fauns often, and much of time he chose to break down the faun into its most recognizable features – with eyes, mouth, ears, and horns. This faun is much more detailed and human, which allows for a deep connection with his image.

Created in 1958 after a brush and ink drawing, this color soft-ground etching and aquatint is hand-signed by Pablo Picasso (Malaga, 1881 – Mougins, 1973) in pencil in the lower right margin and numbered from the edition of 300 in the lower left margin; published by Crommelynck, Paris.

Catalogue Raisonné & COA:

Pablo Picasso The Faun (Le Faune), 1958 is fully documented and referenced in the below catalogue raisonnés and texts (copies will be enclosed as added documentation with the invoices that will accompany the sale of the work).

1. Maeght Editeur 1960. Listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonné 2101.

2. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany this artwork.

About the Framing:

Framed to museum-grade, conservation standards, Pablo Picasso The Faun (Le Faune), 1958 is presented in a complementary moulding and finished with silk-wrapped mats and optical grade Plexiglas.