Description
Pablo Picasso
Jacqueline au chapeau a Fleurs I, (Jacqueline in a Flowered Hat I)
1962
Linoleum cut: etched with a gouge, in two colors, on linoleum, printed on paper
24 3/4 x 17 1/2 in. (sheet), 13 3/4 x 10 5/8 in. (image)
Annotated "Pour Arnéra fils", aside from the numbered edition of 50
Pencil signed
Arnéra fils (meaning "Arnéra's son" in French) refers to a dedication or a provenance mark frequently found on rare print proofs from the historic Imprimerie Arnéra. The printing workshop was run by Picasso's master printmaker Hidalgo Arnéra (1922–2007) in Vallauris on the French Riviera.
The Art Historical Context
Hidalgo Arnéra is legendary for his close collaboration with Pablo Picasso, whom he introduced to the creative potential of linocut printing during the late 1950s and 1960s. Together, they revolutionized the humble linoleum block from a minor craft medium into a sophisticated fine-art practice.
Pieces marked "Pour Arnéra fils" typically represent rare archival print proofs or trial proofs directly from the Imprimerie Arnéra Archives. In the meticulous printmaking process:
- The Process: Picasso would design and hand-carve the plates at night, and his chauffeur would bring them to Arnéra's studio in the morning. Arnéra would then pull experimental or final proofs and return them to the artist.
- The Dedications: Select proof impressions were held back by the printer or gifted by the artist, featuring handwritten pencil inscriptions like "Pour Arnéra fils" dedicated to Arnéra's son.
Because these works were never meant for general commercial release, items with this exact archival provenance are highly coveted by fine art collectors and major galleries worldwide.
