Artist: Pablo Picasso, Spanish (active France), 1881-1973. Author: Yvan (Iwan) Goll (Isaac Lang), French, 1891-1950. "Élégie d'Ihpétonga suivie de Masques de cendre" ("Elegy of Ihpetonga and Masks of Ashes") 1949 - Lithographs dated in stone, "11-4-49," Edition 179/220. Publisher: Éditions Hémisphères, Paris, 1949. Text: Dominique Viglino. Lithographs: Mourlot Freres. Four original transfer lithographs on BFK Rivespaper accompanied by the book, the text created via letterpress in black with blue ink, the paper Rives white wove and watermarked.

A set of four remarkable lithographs by none other than Pablo Ruiz Picasso, each depicting an abstract black mask visage in an Expressionist style, demonstrating Picasso's lifelong enthusiasm for African masks which fueled his passion for collecting ethnographic art as well as the fragmented Cubist shapes and pictorial flatness that virtually defined early 20th century modernism. Beyond this, Picasso simply embraced of the art of disguise and theatre and relished the playful aspects of masks. The following statements from Roland Penrose capture Picasso's whimsical relations to the art of guise, “Throughout life Picasso has been fascinated by the changes in personality that masks and disguises can bring about… In his studio he still keeps at hand a great variety of masks, hats and disguises which he delights in using, sometimes as a means of lowering the tension caused by the arrival of admiring visitors. The success of these tactics is unfailing. Picasso the buffoon appears where a minute ago stood Picasso the great artist. The piercing black eyes which before disquieted the newcomer now laugh through some grotesque disguise that has temporarily changed his personality. It is another example of Picasso’s love of transformation.” (Roland Penrose, “Introduction” in Edward Quinn, Picasso at Work, New York, 1964, p. 12).

Each lithograph in this group served to illustrate a poem written by Yvan Goll, and this collection features each lithograph attached to its accompanying poem as well as the book, "Elegie D'Ihpetonga Suivie de Masques de Cendre." Goll wrote in both French and German as he came of age in the predominantly French speaking Alsace-Lorraine but attended a high school that also used the German language. Furthermore, he studied law in Strasbourg, Frieburg, and Munich. As a poet, Goll was entrenched in both German Expressionism as well as French Surrealism. Hence, we have a wondrous early French Modern illustrated collection of poems, exemplifying a seemingly symbiotic collaboration between the fine art of Pablo Picasso and the unique literatary contributions of Yvan Goll, a special ensemble for any collector of Modern Art and/or rare books. Size: Each lithograph measures 10" W x 13" H (25.4 cm x 33 cm); with mat 16" W x 20" H (40.6 cm x 50.8 cm). Book Dimensions: .5" L x 10" W x 13" H (1.3 cm x 25.4 cm x 33 cm)

Provenance: Ex-Los Angeles County collection

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