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A work made of sugar-lift etching and aquatint on copper in black on ivory wove paper.

The Egyptian

May 11, 1953, published 1954

Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881-1973) printed by Roger Lacourière (French, 1892-1966) published by Galerie Louise Leiris

Spain

The Egyptian is said to depict the artist Françoise Gilot (1921–2023), Picasso’s romantic partner from 1943–53. Gilot once claimed “I am the only woman who did not sacrifice herself to the sacred monster [Picasso]” after she left him in 1953 with their two children. In this large-scale print we see her face from the front and in profile accompanied by large and clumsy hands. Picasso worked with the printer Roger Lacourière to create this work, using a technique they invented together: sugar-lift aquatint. In this process, an artist draws or paints directly on a copper plate.

Sugar-lift etching and aquatint on copper in black on ivory wove paper

Prints and Drawings