This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/10/2021
Pablo Picasso was the most dominant and influential artist of the first half of the 20th century, associated with pioneering Cubism and collage, as well as making major contributions to Symbolism and Surrealism. In 1937, the Spanish Republic, in the throes of the Spanish Civil War, asked Picasso, among several other artists, to create a painting for its pavilion at the Paris International Exposition that year. The work he made was Guernica, probably Picasso's most famous work, and certainly his most powerful political statement, showing the tragedies of war and the suffering it inflicts upon individuals and innocent civilians. The success and underlying message of this work led Picasso to design an image to represent peace. His first Dove of Peace was chosen as the emblem for the First International Peace Conference in Paris in 1949. It strayed from the style of his typical art, as it was a traditional, realistic picture of a dove which had been given him to his friend and rival, Henri Matisse. Picasso later developed the image of the dove into a simple, graphic line drawing that is now one of the world's most recognizable symbols of peace. Offered here is one such depiction, a rendering of the Dove of Peace, hand-drawn by Picasso himself on a 6.75" x 5" off-white album page. Above the beautiful sketch of the dove, complete with olive branch, Picasso has prominently signed his name across the top. Both sketch and autograph have been accomplished in black ballpoint. The page is in overall fine condition, with light overall rippling, which has been minimized by a beautiful ornate frame to an overall size of 18.5" x 20", ready for immediate prominent display. Renderings by Picasso are understandably valuable, and this moving portrayal of the iconic international peace emblem is highly sought after. The desirability and rarity of this sketch cannot be understated. Art and history collectors, this is your chance to own an authentic piece of art from arguably the greatest artist of the past century! Accompanied by a full Letter of Authenticity from Beckett Authentication Services (BAS).