Le Chef-d'oeuvre inconnu (The Unknown Masterpiece)
published 1931, reworked late 1950s
Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881-1973) written by Honoré de Balzac (French, 1799-1850) etched by Louis Fort (French, 19th-20th century) and engraved by Georges Aubert (French, 1886-1961) published by Ambroise Vollard (French, 1867-1939) binding by Henri Creuzevault (French, 1905-1971)
Spain
Picasso’s illustrations for Honoré de Balzac’s short story The Unknown Masterpiece included engravings, line drawings, and etchings. Balzac’s tale of a misunderstood artist who works in secret on an “unknown masterpiece,” appealed to Picasso. He made unusual line and dot drawings, which he later heightened with crayon, dedicating it to the book’s first owner, art dealer Henri Matarasso (1892–1985).
Book with 12 etchings hors-texte, 67 wood engravings, and crayon, with black morocco binding