Picasso: Histoire Naturelle

31 March - 15 July 2007

A series of 31 prints, considered to be among Picasso's most important graphic productions, of animals, birds, and insects. Picasso created these images from 1936 to accompany the classic natural history text by the French naturalist Georges-Louis Leclerc Buffon (1749-1788).

The prints will be complemented by animal, insect, bird and creature objects and toys from the Museum's collection and interactive exhibits. This is an exhibition from National Touring Exhibitions, organised by the Hayward Gallery for the Arts Council of England

Pablo Picasso created his natural history prints in 1936. These stunning images are of animals, birds and insects. They illustrate a series of books dating from about 1750 to 1800 called the Histoire Naturelle. The books were written by Georges-Louis Leclerc, later known as Comte de Buffon. The books describe the entire natural world.

The thirty-one prints took Picasso just a month to complete. Picasso used creatures he remembered from his childhood, and animals from the zoo and the circus. He was particularly fascinated by the pigeon, Spanish bull and cockerel. He treated each animal individually using different artistic techniques. The prints were published in 1942.

 

Printmaking Techniques

Picasso used a printmaking process called sugar aquatint. This can produce effects similar to painting. Black ink mixed with sugary water is used to draw the image on to a printing plate. By applying varnish to protect some areas and acid to 'bite' other areas out of the plate, different degrees of light and dark are created.

Picasso was an extremely inventive and skilful printmaker. He used a range of tools and techniques to create the images - dry brush marks, splatters, dribbles and smudges. He often used sandpaper, the wrong end of a paintbrush, and even his fingers to give different textures and tones to his prints.

Picasso (1881-1973)

Pablo Picasso was one of the greatest artists of the twentieth century. He invented the art movement Cubism, and created new ways of representing the world.

The prints in Histoire Naturelle are surprisingly realistic representations of animals. Drawn from Picasso's memory, the prints are humorous and playful.

Picasso's other work from this period tended to be more serious and distorted. The imagery was often linked to his private life and to war.

Buffon's Natural History Books

Buffon's Histoire Naturelle describes the whole world of nature. The first three volumes were originally published in 1749. It took Buffon fifty-five years to complete all forty-four volumes.

Nearly two hundred years later, in 1936, a publisher called Ambroise Vollard commissioned Picasso to create new illustrations for Buffon's text.

Though beautifully written, the books were no longer widely read. By combining the text with Picasso's prints, Buffon's descriptions of animals were brought to life again.

Buffon's Text

 

The Goat

Sensible of caresses, and capable of much attachment, the goat is more strong, light and agile, and less timid than the sheep.

The Dog

The dog, independent of his beauty, strength, vivacity, and nimbleness, has all the interior qualities which can attract the regard of man.

The Bull

The bull, like the stallion, should be chosen from the handsomest of his species; he should be large, well made, and full of flesh; his eyes black, his looks haughty and fierce.

The Wolf

He is naturally clownish and dastardly; but want makes him ingenious, and necessity gives him courage.

The Ox

The largeness of his body, the slowness of his movements, the shortness in his legs, and even the tranquillity and patience under labour, concur in rendering him superior to every other animal for cultivating the ground.

The White Eagle

He is solitary, the inhabitant of the desert, over which he reigns supreme, and excludes all the birds from his silent domain.

The Vulture

They combine in flocks, like base assassins, and are rather robbers than warriors, birds of carnage than birds of prey.

The Ostrich

The Ostrich is confined to the ground by a double chain; by its great weight, and the structure of its wings, it is condemned… to traverse with labour, the surface of the earth, and exiled from the region of the air…

The Pigeon

Pigeons are all fond of society, attached to their companions, and faithful to their mates…

Butterfly

Their whole time is spent either in quest of food… or in pursuit of the female, whose approach they can often perceive at a very great distance.

Wasp

Of all insects the wasp is the most fierce, voracious, and most dangerous, when enraged… They make war on every fly, and the spider itself dreads their approaches.

Toad

They lead a penitent, solitary life, seldom venturing out, except when the moisture of a summer's evening invites them abroad.