Pablo Picasso Joueur de flute et cavaliers (Flute Player and Cavaliers); In the 1950’s and 1960’s, Picasso initiated a collaboration with renowned goldsmith François Victor-Hugo. Together, they created a series of gold medallions after original designs from Picasso. Much to Hugo’s dismay, Picasso initially refused to sell these works for profit and instead kept them as private treasures. However, Picasso eventually gave in to Hugo’s persistence and authorized Hugo to make a small, 'numbered edition’ of each for sale in 1967. They were not sold publicly but rather dispatched to their respective buyers,  so they attracted almost no publicity, making them quite rare. In fact, few outside of Picasso’s inner circle knew about their existence. Each gold medallion was individually selected, designed and approved by Picasso, revealing the special attachment the artist had towards the medallions.

Pablo Picasso Joueur de flute et cavaliers (Flute Player and Cavaliers), 1956 envisions a leisurely yet complex composition made entirely of lines. Situated somewhere in the wistful and romantic countryside, the reclining flute player performs as the mounted cavaliers pass by in the distance. The branches of the tree to the left curve up and around the flute player, following the shape of the dish and accentuating the circular shape of the medallion. This composition is taken from the ceramic version also titled Joueur de flute et cavaliers (Flute Player and Cavaliers), 1956. The recurrence of this composition in Picasso's work attests to the appeal of the image, and the fact that this Joueur de flute et cavaliers (Flute Player and Cavaliers), 1956 is cast in gold makes it all the more captivating.

Created in 1956, this gold medallion is stamped with the artist’s signature ‘Picasso’, the François and Pierre Hugo reference number '1410'. Numbered 8 from the edition of 20 and two examplaires d'artiste and two examplaires d'auteur.

Catalogue Raisonné & COA:

Pablo Picasso Joueur de flute et cavaliers (Flute Player and Cavaliers) 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 final sale of the work) :

1. Pierre Hugo & Claire Siaud, Bijoux d'artistes: Hommage à François Hugo, Aix-en-Provence 2001. Listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. 1410, p. 153
2. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany this work.

About the Framing:
Museum grade conservation framed in a complementary moulding with silk mats and optical grade Plexiglas.