PABLO PICASSO | Boite Peinte

Estate of the Artist
Marina Picasso (by descent from the above)
Private Collection, Europe
Sotheby’s, London, 4 February 2004, lot 278
Purchased at the above sale by the present owner The authenticity of this work has been confirmed by Claude Picasso.

Papiers collés and oil on a cigarette box. The lid can be removed completely although old nail holes are visible at the edges. There are some spots of loss to the papier collé elements, in particular to the edges, and there is some abrasion to the surface of the wood at the left edge of the box. There are some small spots of pigment loss visible in places, primarily to the blue pigments, and there is a spot of staining to the interior of the box. This work is in overall good condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Picasso’s compulsive need to create – something he did every day throughout his long career – underpinned all his artistic achievements. Working with every conceivable material, from traditional artistic media to everyday objects, Picasso limitless desire to create lead to many radical inventions. Boite Peinte is a testament to this endlessly innovative spirit and constant need to reinvent his own style and subjects. The box is painted in an abstract scheme of blue, yellow and red, which emphasises its geometric shape, with a playful shining blue sun on its underside. Throughout his career, Picasso often returned to the practice of cutting paper, which was a traditional Andalusian activity, but instead of making paper dolls, he used the procedure for new artistic purposes. In 1914, when Picasso executed the present work, he was experimenting with collage – that is, pasted on paper elements in his compositions – Picasso revived this practice of cutting as an alternative to drawing. On Boite Peinte, he has attached such cut-paper shapes which he then painted upon to keep the overall pattern intact. The work remained in the estate of the artist and was later inherited by the artist’s granddaughter, Marina Picasso.