Showcasing one of Picasso’s most beloved subjects, Picasso Visage de faune (Faun’s Face), c. 1970s is a delightful work. Laid upon a delicately lined background, the serious face of a faun stares back at us. The faun, a favorite of Picasso, incorporates his interest in Greek mythology with a love of the playful. This faun surely holds to that, as his crinkles his right eye in delight. The work also showcases Picasso’s immense attention to detail – working on a relatively small workspace, Picasso packs in mass amounts of detailing, from the lines on the fauns forehead, to the delicate hairs on his head and in his beard. A magical piece of art, this medallion highlights the technical beauty and personality of a Picasso artwork.

In the 1950’s and 1960’s Picasso initiated a collaboration with renowned goldsmith François Victor-Hugo. Together, they created a series of medallions all in gold based 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 gave in to Hugo’s persistence and in 1967 and authorized Hugo to make a small, ‘numbered edition’ of each for sale. They were not sold publicly but rather dispatched to their respective buyers and 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.

Created circa the 1970s, this 23K gold medallion is stamped with the artist’s signature ‘Picasso,’ the François and Pierre Hugo reference number ‘1409’, and the goldsmith’s mark and a French mark on verso. Numbered from the edition of 20 on verso.

Catalogue Raisonné & COA:

Pablo Picasso Faun’s Face (Visage de faune), c.1970s 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. C. Siaud & P. Hugo, Bijoux d’artistes Hommage à François Hugo, Aix-en-Provence, 2001. Listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. 1409.

2. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany this artwork.