Six Fantastic Stories (Six contes fantasques)

Artist Pablo Picasso (Spanish (active France), 1881-1973)

Publisher Flammarion, Paris, 1953

Printer text: Imprimerie Nationale, Paris; engravings: Atelier Lacourière, Paris; wood-engraved lettrines: Pierre Bouchet, Paris

Author Maurice Toesca (French, born 1904)

Date1953

DimensionsSlipcase: H: 13 11/16 in. (347 mm); W: 10 1/2 in. (267 mm); Depth: 1 11/16 in. (43 mm).
Chemise: H: 13 7/16 in. (341 mm); W: 10 1/4 in. (261 mm); Depth: 1 3/8 in. (35 mm).
Book: H: 13 7/16 in. (341 mm); W: 10 1/4 in. (261 mm); Depth: 7/16 in. (11 mm).
Page (untrimmed): H: 12 15/16 in. (328 mm); W: 10 in. (254 mm).
Element (untrimmed): H: 13 1/16 in. (331 mm); W: 9 13/16 in. (249 mm).

MediumOriginal prints: 6 drypoints, plus 6 wood-engraved initial letters by Pierre Bouchet; plus an extra suite of the drypoints and initial letters on Auvergne white laid paper. Text: letterpress. Paper: buff ancient japan paper.

ClassificationBooks

Credit LineGift of Molly and Walter Bareiss in honor of Barbara K. Sutherland

Object number

1984.905

Not on View

Label TextIllustrations for SIX CONTES FANTASQUES: Although Flammarion approached Picasso in 1943 about illustrating Toesca's six tales, and Picasso made 6 engravings in 1944, the book was not published until almost a decade later. The illustrations were distributed in the book as follows (* denotes those displayed here): The first tale "La naissance des papillions" was preceded by the first engraving, which shows an idealized profile facing a more imaginary abstract figure of a nude. The second tale "L'aiguille des secondes" was accompanied by an illustration of a nude. "Naissance d'une princesse" preceded by the third engraving of Dora Maar in profile, wearing an earring. "L'arbre qui marche" is accompanied by an engraving of an abstract or surrealist bust of a woman, similiar to the other paintings and sculptures Picasso did in the 30s and 40s. "Recontre avec l'oiseau" is accompanied by an illustration of a face like an African mask. For the finall tale, "Le bois d'enfer", which is about the author anticipating his confrontation with old age, Picasso made a profile of a woman (recalling Marie-Thérèse Walter or Dora Maar) wearing a garland of flowers in her hair.Published Referencescf. Goeppert, Sebastian, et al., Pablo Picasso: The Illustrated Books, Catalogue raisonné, Geneva, 1983, no. 66

cf. Hogben, Carol, Rowan Watson, editors, From Manet to Hockney: Modern Artists’ Illustrated Books, London, 1985, no. 128, reprs.

Exhibition HistoryToledo Museum of Art, Picasso as an Illustrator, Jan. 23-May 29, 1988, no. 32.