Footnotes

The authenticity of this work was confirmed by the late Claude Picasso.

Provenance
Norman Granz Collection, US (a gift from the artist); his sale, Sotheby's, London, 29 November 1989, lot 519.
Private collection, Germany (acquired at the above sale); their sale, Sotheby's, London, 4 December 1996, lot 239.
Private collection, Europe (acquired at the above sale); their sale, Sotheby's, London, 2 March 2017, lot 345.
Private collection, Hong Kong (acquired at the above sale).

Pablo Picasso's Peintre et modèle stands as a luminous testament to the artist's enduring creative spirit during the zenith of his mature period. In an era when Picasso was already immortalised as the defining maestro of modern art, this work underscores his restless creative energy and insatiable desire to explore new visual languages. In his studios at Mougins, Picasso produced a staggering number of paintings, drawings, and prints, each brimming with an energy that belied his established reputation. Peintre et modèle is a captivating example of this creative urgency - a personal, introspective dialogue that not only references the story of art but also projects an ever-evolving vision of art itself.

The visual dynamism of the work is achieved through an intricate layering of line and colour that invites the viewer to traverse a richly textured, patterned space. Picasso's masterful use of grid-lines, curling contours and the strategic layering of crayon over felt-tip ink creates a tactile landscape where forms and figures coalesce and diverge. Within this complex field, the sequential layering of faces - both the artist's and that of his model - emerges as a sophisticated meditation on identity and perspective. Here, the model is rendered with a jovial expression, his features imbued with a gentle optimism that contrasts with the densely patterned surroundings. This interplay of expression and abstraction hints at deeper questions about the nature of portraiture and the multiplicity of identity, suggesting that the work is as much an introspection on the creative process as it is a depiction of a sitter.

At its core, Peintre et modèle encapsulates the duality that so often defined Picasso's late oeuvre - a merging of tradition with radical innovation. The figure of the artist, complete with a historically resonant hat evocative of Rembrandt's portraiture, stands in dialogue with both the past and the present. This sartorial detail, alongside the curling tresses and patterned attire, constructs an image that appears both a playful pastiche of historical archetypes and a sincere self-portrait. In adopting the guise of the romanticised historical virtuoso, Picasso not only paid homage to the great masters who preceded him but also reasserted his own position as a timeless innovator. The visual language of the work, with its swirling forms and layered textures, functions as a metaphor for the creative process itself - a process characterised by constant negotiation between the known and the unknown, the inherited and the newly discovered. It is in this interplay that the work finds its emotional resonance, inviting the viewer to experience the immediacy of artistic creation and the ceaseless exploration of form, colour, and identity.

Beyond its formal qualities, the provenance and personal associations of the piece further enrich its narrative. Originally owned by Norman Granz - a towering figure in 20th-century jazz whose contributions to music included groundbreaking collaborations with Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald - the work carries with it an inherent aura of cultural cross-pollination. Granz's lifelong friendship with Picasso, which endured until the artist's death in 1973, imbues the drawing with a palpable sense of intimacy and shared artistic vision. The personal inscription, 'pour Norman Granz,' is not merely a dedication but a testament to the deep bond between two creative titans from different realms. This connection is further underscored by the playful light-heartedness and optimism that permeate the work - qualities that reflect not only the artist's personal rapport with Granz but also his broader commitment to celebrating the act of creation. By fusing the creative spirit of his friend with his own modern sensibilities, Picasso created a work that is at once both a retrospective homage and a bold step into new artistic territory.

In Peintre et modèle, Picasso encapsulates the paradox of his mature creative phase: a profound reverence for the heritage of art interwoven with a relentless drive to redefine its boundaries. The drawing stands as a vibrant encapsulation of a moment when the artist, already ensconced among the pantheon of modern masters, continued to challenge conventional narratives of identity, representation, and artistic expression. It is a vivid reminder that even in the twilight of his illustrious career, Picasso remained a pioneer - capable of fusing introspection with exuberance, and the historical with the avant-garde. As such, Peintre et modèle offers a captivating window into the mind of an artist who forever transformed the landscape of modern art.