Le Femme, David and Bathsheba
Fine Art by Pablo Picasso This artwork is an original lithograph by Pablo Picasso titled David and Bathsheba (after Lucas Cranach the Elder). Created between 1947 and 1949, this piece is part of a celebrated series that interprets the biblical story through a modern lens.
Artwork Overview
Picasso drew inspiration from a 1526 painting by the Northern Renaissance master Lucas Cranach the Elder, which he first saw in a black-and-white exhibition catalogue.
The Subject: The work depicts King David, shown at the top with a large head and harp, lustfully observing the young Bathsheba from his palace balcony while she gathers with her ladies around a pool.
Technique: Picasso created this by covering a zinc plate with black lithographic ink and then using a sharp scraper tool to "draw" the figures by scratching away the ink. This method results in the distinctive white-on-black linear style seen in your image.
Evolution (The "States"): Picasso revisited the same zinc plate multiple times over two years, creating a series of thirteen "states" or variations. As the series progressed, the images generally became more abstract, darker, and more complex.
Significance: This series is considered one of Picasso's major achievements in lithography, demonstrating his ability to transform historic art into his own unique cubist and expressionist style.
Collecting and Editions
Edition Size: Most published editions of these lithographs were limited to 50 impressions.
Museum Collections: Examples of this series are held by major institutions, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, the British Museum, and the Picasso Museum in Barcelona.
Artwork Overview
Picasso drew inspiration from a 1526 painting by the Northern Renaissance master Lucas Cranach the Elder, which he first saw in a black-and-white exhibition catalogue.
The Subject: The work depicts King David, shown at the top with a large head and harp, lustfully observing the young Bathsheba from his palace balcony while she gathers with her ladies around a pool.
Technique: Picasso created this by covering a zinc plate with black lithographic ink and then using a sharp scraper tool to "draw" the figures by scratching away the ink. This method results in the distinctive white-on-black linear style seen in your image.
Evolution (The "States"): Picasso revisited the same zinc plate multiple times over two years, creating a series of thirteen "states" or variations. As the series progressed, the images generally became more abstract, darker, and more complex.
Significance: This series is considered one of Picasso's major achievements in lithography, demonstrating his ability to transform historic art into his own unique cubist and expressionist style.
Collecting and Editions
Edition Size: Most published editions of these lithographs were limited to 50 impressions.
Museum Collections: Examples of this series are held by major institutions, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, the British Museum, and the Picasso Museum in Barcelona.
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