Literature

Mallen, Enrique, ed. The Online Picasso Project. Sam Houston State University. (Reference 55:113)

Published by

Atelier Crommelynck, Paris

Dimensions

37.5 x 44.5 cm (sight)

Condition

A fine impression with fresh colours and strong contrasts. Signed in pencil by the artist and bearing the Atelier Crommelynck blindstamp. In very good condition.

Catalogue Note

Executed in 1955, Nature Morte au Citron et au Pichet Rouge demonstrates Picasso's enduring fascination with the still-life tradition, a subject that occupied him throughout his career. Rather than merely depicting familiar household objects, Picasso transforms the genre into a vibrant exploration of colour, form and spatial invention.

At the centre of the composition stands the distinctive red pitcher, rendered through a series of simplified planes and shifting perspectives that reveal Picasso's lifelong engagement with Cubist principles. The vessel appears simultaneously stable and animated, its fragmented forms creating a dynamic interplay between surface and volume. Nearby, a bright lemon and accompanying fruit provide visual counterpoints, introducing accents of vivid colour and organic form.

The composition is remarkable for its sophisticated colour harmonies. Delicate pastel blues, pinks, greens and yellows are juxtaposed with stronger passages of red, black and deep green, producing a lively visual rhythm that animates the entire surface. The luminous background enhances the sculptural presence of the objects while creating an atmosphere of light and clarity characteristic of Picasso's Mediterranean years.

Printed as a colour aquatint, the work demonstrates Picasso's mastery of graphic media and his ability to achieve painterly richness within the printmaking process. The subtle tonal transitions and vibrant colour relationships reveal the technical sophistication of the medium while preserving the spontaneity and freedom of the artist's hand.

Both intimate and monumental, Nature Morte au Citron et au Pichet Rouge exemplifies Picasso's extraordinary ability to reinvigorate traditional subjects through invention, humour and formal innovation. It remains a compelling example of the artist's mature graphic work and his continuing dialogue with the history of European painting.