DISCUSSION:
Commissioned by Nice for the city's annual carnival, The King depicts a cheerful king in primary colors. As the traditional emblem of the event, the smiling countenance advertises Nice's identity as a joyous vacation spot. Joseph Foster notes the strokes of varying width achieved by Picasso's use of a flat stub pen over the traditional gouging tool, to create this image (28). Foter also notes the balance and artistic intent behind this seemingly straightforward depiction of the lighthearted king. The artist clearly thought about each aspect of the lithograph during its creation: the single, bold line delineating the face; the use of black to divide the composition in thirds; the harmony between yellow, red, and blue. Picasso's talent and innate understanding of the graphic arts comes through in The King, as it does in all of his works. This work is especially valuable for the connection between the king's jolly outlook and the bright palette chosen to match.

Created in 1951, this original color lithograph is hand signed by Pablo Picasso (1881 - 1973) in red pencil in the lower right; the print is also signed in the stone in blue at the lower left: 'Picasso | 12.1.51.' It was printed by l'Imprimerie de la Victoire, Nice.

DOCUMENTED AND ILLUSTRATED IN:
1. Foster, Joseph K. The Posters of Picasso. New York: Grosset & Dunlap Publishers, 1964. Listed on pp. 28-29 and illustrated as plate 9.

ABOUT THE FRAMING:
Museum-grade conservation framed in a complementary moulding with silk mats and optical grade Plexiglas.