Pablo Picasso
Faune et Chévre, 1959
Linocut of Arches Paper
20.3 × 10.2 cm
8.0 × 4.0 in
8.0 × 4.0 in
Edition of 50
Series: Linocut
Signed in Pencil
Faune et Chèvre by Pablo Picasso lays out an intimate mythological encounter between satyr and goat, rendered with the bold simplicity that characterised his linocut explorations of 1959. Executed in...
Faune et Chèvre by Pablo Picasso lays out an intimate mythological encounter between satyr and goat, rendered with the bold simplicity that characterised his linocut explorations of 1959. Executed in an edition of fifty, the work evidences Picasso's command of the reductive linocut technique, where successive layers are carved away from a single block to achieve tonal variation and linear precision.
The image focuses on the classical figure of a faun, seated in contemplative repose as he engages with a small goat positioned at the left of the frame. Picasso employs stark contrasts between the deep black carved areas and the natural cream tone of the Arches paper, creating a dramatic chiaroscuro effect that heightens the scene’s intensity. The faun's muscular torso and horned head emerge through confident linear work, whilst the goat is defined with swift, economical strokes that capture its alert stance and profile.
This period opened Picasso's sustained work with linocut printing at his villa La Californie in Cannes, where he collaborated closely with printer Hidalgo Arnéra to refine his approach to the medium. The 1959 linocuts move away from earlier, more mediated print processes, favouring a direct relationship between carving and final image. Faune et Chèvre reflects that spontaneous quality, with each incision contributing structurally rather than decoratively.
The subject matter continues Picasso's long engagement with classical antiquity, a theme present throughout his career and sharpened by his Mediterranean surroundings in the 1950s. The faun—part human, part animal—carries ideas of transformation and duality, recurring concerns in his late work. The scale and restraint here set it apart from earlier, more expansive mythological scenes, keeping the focus on the interaction between the two figures.
Faune et Chèvre reflects Picasso’s ability to work classical material through a reduced language, where form, contrast, and placement carry the image without excess detail.
For more information or to buy Faune et Chévre by Pablo Picasso, contact our specialists using the enquiry button above.
Explore Pablo Picasso prints for sale, or discover how to sell Pablo Picasso prints.
The image focuses on the classical figure of a faun, seated in contemplative repose as he engages with a small goat positioned at the left of the frame. Picasso employs stark contrasts between the deep black carved areas and the natural cream tone of the Arches paper, creating a dramatic chiaroscuro effect that heightens the scene’s intensity. The faun's muscular torso and horned head emerge through confident linear work, whilst the goat is defined with swift, economical strokes that capture its alert stance and profile.
This period opened Picasso's sustained work with linocut printing at his villa La Californie in Cannes, where he collaborated closely with printer Hidalgo Arnéra to refine his approach to the medium. The 1959 linocuts move away from earlier, more mediated print processes, favouring a direct relationship between carving and final image. Faune et Chèvre reflects that spontaneous quality, with each incision contributing structurally rather than decoratively.
The subject matter continues Picasso's long engagement with classical antiquity, a theme present throughout his career and sharpened by his Mediterranean surroundings in the 1950s. The faun—part human, part animal—carries ideas of transformation and duality, recurring concerns in his late work. The scale and restraint here set it apart from earlier, more expansive mythological scenes, keeping the focus on the interaction between the two figures.
Faune et Chèvre reflects Picasso’s ability to work classical material through a reduced language, where form, contrast, and placement carry the image without excess detail.
For more information or to buy Faune et Chévre by Pablo Picasso, contact our specialists using the enquiry button above.
Explore Pablo Picasso prints for sale, or discover how to sell Pablo Picasso prints.
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