Against the Grain (Contrée)

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

Publisher Robert-J. Godet, Paris, 1944

Author Robert Desnos (French, 1900-1945)

Date1944

DimensionsBook: H: 11 1/4 in. (285 mm); W: 7 11/16 in. (195 mm); Depth: 1/2 in. (13 mm).
Page: H: 10 15/16 in. (278 mm); W: 7 7/16 in. (189 mm).
Sheet: H: 11 in. (280mm).
Image: H: 9 5/8 in. (245 mm); W: 5 1/4 in. (134 mm).

MediumOriginal print: etching. Reproductions: 23 line block reproductions of details of the etching. Text: letterpress with green. Paper: Lafuma pur fil cream wove paper, watermarked.

ClassificationBooks

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

Object number

1984.891

Not on View

Label TextPicasso and Desnos met regularly during the war years in Paris. In December 1943, Picasso made the frontispiece etching for this book. It shows either a seated figure, shown both from the front and back, or - more likely - an embracing couple. The style is a combination of cubism and surrealism.Published Referencescf. Goeppert, Sebastian, et al., Pablo Picasso: The Illustrated Books, Catalogue raisonné, Geneva, 1983, no. 39.Exhibition HistoryToledo Museum of Art, Picasso as an Illustrator, Jan. 23-May 29, 1988, no. 16.