PICASSO PABLO: (1881-1973) Spanish painter, a co-founder of the Cubist movement. A printed small 4to exhibition catalogue for Picasso at the Durand-Ruel Galleries in New York, 3rd - 29th May 1948, featuring various paintings created by Picasso between 1939 and 1945, ten of them portraits of women and five still lifes, each reproduced in monochrome to a single page opposite a description of the work. To the front cover Picasso has executed an attractive original pencil, black and blue crayon drawing, the image showing a flute player seated serenely on the ground in a full-length profile pose, facing right and with his knees bent, playing a long flute which he holds to his lips with both hands. Around the fluid, simplistic and stylised figure (in black crayon) Picasso has added (in pencil and blue crayon) a horizon and arabesques which serve to illuminate the composition. Signed (´Picasso´) by the artist in pencil, above the printed title of the catalogue, and dated 5th September 1950 in his hand. A wonderful and highly desirable original drawing signed by Picasso. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG

The theme of the flautist recurred many times in Picasso´s works during his career, and the present drawing is somewhat reminiscent of The Flute Player (1962) in which Picasso also depicts the musician seated on the ground, in a full-length pose and with his knees bent, holding his flute to his mouth with both hands.