Pablo Picasso
Les Bleus de Barcelone – 12 Aquarelles et Pastels
Paris, Au Vent d’Arles, 1963
Illustrated portfolio based on early drawings, watercolours and pastels by Pablo Picasso, focused on works from the Blue Period (1899–1904). The text was written by Jaime Sabartés, Picasso’s close friend and secretary, and printed in Paris by Imprimerie Union.
The pochoir plates were executed by Daniel Jacomet, using the traditional hand-coloured stencil technique, on Vélin BFK Rives paper. Printing and finishing were completed in December 1963.
Edition details
Total edition: 500 numbered copies (1–500)
Plus 40 hors commerce copies (H.C. 1–40)
Copies 1–75 were accompanied by an original aquatint (eau-forte) printed at Ateliers Crommelynck and signed by the artist
This copy: No. 138 / 500
➡️ No aquatint included (as expected outside the 1–75 range)
Contents of this example
6 original pochoir lithographs (from the complete set of 12)
Each pochoir individually mounted on Vélin de Rives
Hand-applied colour pochoirs after Picasso’s original drawings, watercolours and pastels
Portfolio includes original title pages, colophon, and printed text leaves by Sabartés
⚠️ Important:
This is an incomplete example of the portfolio, containing 6 pochoirs only (out of 12).
Table of plates (complete portfolio reference)
Portrait de Sabartés en moine – Crayon – Paris, 1938
Lola, sœur de l’artiste – Fusain rehaussé – Barcelone, 1899
Femme à la mèche – Aquarelle – Barcelone, 1903
Le divan – Pastel – Barcelone, 1899
Le peintre Sebastian Junyer – Aquarelle – Paris, 1904
Femme devant le miroir – Pastel – Paris, 1900
Mère et enfant au fichu – Pastel – Barcelone, 1903
La diseuse – Pastel – Paris, 1901
Les amants dans la rue – Pastel – Paris, 1900
Le poète décadent – Fusain rehaussé – Barcelone, 1899
La femme au châle – Pastel – Barcelone, 1899
Le fou – Aquarelle – Paris, 1904
(Only 6 of the above are present in this example.)
Bibliographic references
Cramer, Pablo Picasso – The Illustrated Books: No. 122
Bloch, Picasso Lithographs: No. 1130
Orozco, Picasso: 70 Years of Book Illustration: No. 217
Remarks
Les Bleus de Barcelone is a major post-war editorial homage to Picasso’s early Blue Period, valued for the quality of Daniel Jacomet’s pochoir technique and the documentary importance of Sabartés’ text linking the works to the formation of the Musée Picasso in Barcelona.
This example is offered as an incomplete portfolio, suitable for collectors seeking authentic pochoir plates from this iconic publication, or for completion projects.
