Depicting a whimsical and colorful arrangement of an elaborately decorated horse along with two Pages from a medieval court, Picasso has created a piece that is both comical and charming in nature.  It is bold and striking, yet lively and humorous at the same time.  With caricature-like expressions and an explosion of greens, blues, reds, and yellows, the scene is reminiscent of a scene from a short story or even one from a comic.  However, it still retains the quintessential spark that remains throughout all of Picasso’s work; his ingenuity and proficiency cannot be denied, especially with his printmaking techniques as seen with Jeux de Pages.

This piece was printed by Mourlot, Paris, based on Picasso’s original oil on panel dated February 24, 1951.  This original lithograph is numbered 125/200 in pencil in the lower left margin and hand-signed by Pablo Picasso (1881 – 1973) .

Catalogue Raisonné & COA:
It 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.    Czwiklitzer, Christopher. Picasso’s Posters, New York, 1971. Listed and illustrated as cat. no. 81 on pg. 316.

2.    The Picasso Project. Picasso’s Paintings, Watercolors, Drawings and Sculpture – The Fifties I 1950 – 1955, San Francisco, 2000. Original oil on canvas is listed and illustrated as cat. no. 51-014 on pg. 42.

About the Framing:
Conservation framed with archival materials and museum quality, this work is set in a bronze, Baroque-style frame.  The golden hues of the moulding compliment the rich deep tones and accentuate the bright colors of this work.  The sculptural details also serve to enhance Picasso’s rhythmic and iconic stroke throughout the drawing.  Completed with white, linen-wrapped mats and a matching gold inner fillet, this work is set behind an archival Plexiglas cover.