Pablo Picasso

Galerie Louise Leiris, Paris
Private Collection (acquired from the above in 1968; sale: Christie's, New York, 10th May 2001, lot 149)
Purchased at the above sale by the present owner

Charles Feld, Picasso, Dessins 27.3.66-15.3.68, Paris, 1969, no. 92, illustrated in colour n.p.
Christian Zervos, Pablo Picasso, Oeuvres de 1967 et 1968, Paris, 1973, vol. XXVII, no. 435, illustrated pl. 178
The Picasso Project, Picasso's Paintings, Watercolors, Drawings and Sculpture. The Sixties II 1964-1967, San Francisco, 2002, no.67-041, illustrated p. 278

Executed on cream wove paper, not laid down, attached to the backing board in all four corners, at the centre of the left and right edges and twice along the upper and lower edges. All four edges are deckled. Apart from some minor time staining to all four edges, and some faint discolouration to all four corners, probably due to previous mounting, this work is in very good condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Homme à l'agneau, mangeur de pastèque et flûtiste belongs to a series of drawings of similar subjects that Picasso executed in 1967. The scene is reminiscent of works by artists of the Spanish Baroque tradition and reflects their strong influence on Picasso's work. As Jeffrey Hoffeld notes: 'Picasso said there is no past or future in art. And clearly there was no past as such for him in his own art.' (J. Hoffeld, Picasso - The Late Drawings, New York, 1988, p. 8)

The artist is using here pictorial quotes from Caravaggio to Velazquez which can be found in the figure of the seated boy crowned with leaves and flowers eating the watermelon, the flute player and the bearded man with the sheep. Yet this animated drawing is clearly a joyful and passionate expression of Picasso's own personal style and attitude towards life.