Offered here is a vintage impression of Pablo Picasso's “Pour Roby,” also associated with L’Âge de Soleil and sometimes catalogued as Woman's Head.
Original image created in 1950. This example is believed to correspond to the circa-1968/1969 Collector's Guild issue.
The composition is a striking minimalist portrait executed almost entirely through expressive line—a classic example of Picasso's graphic work.
Picasso originally created Pour Roby in connection with his friend Robert J. Godet (“Roby”) and Godet's publication L’Âge de Soleil.
The composition is documented in the Picasso graphic-work literature as:
Bloch 680 / Cramer 57
The Museum of Modern Art in New York holds an impression of the same 1950 composition in its Drawings and Prints collection.
Later impressions/restrikes were distributed by The Collector's Guild of New York during the late 1960s.
The dimensions of this example closely correspond to documented Collector's Guild impressions:
Sheet: approximately 12 7/8 × 9 7/8 inches
Image / plate area: approximately 9 × 7 inches
The artwork bears the words “Picasso” and “Pour Roby” within the image in reverse.
This is intentional and is a documented characteristic of this work.
The Picasso signature is in the plate and is NOT a hand-written pencil signature.
Because the original design was transferred to the printing plate, the inscription appears reversed in the resulting impression.
A distinct rectangular impression surrounding the composition is clearly visible in the paper.
This is consistent with the physical plate impression associated with the printing process and can be particularly well seen when the sheet is viewed under angled lighting.
Detailed photographs of this feature are included.
The black lines also display natural variations in density and ink deposition visible under close examination.
Printed on substantial cream-colored textured art paper with attractive irregular/deckled-style edges.
The sheet has been removed from its previous framing so the paper, edges, surface, plate impression and reverse could be photographed clearly.
No visible watermark was found during examination.
Also included is a separate blank sheet of very similar paper that was found together with the artwork.
The blank sheet has similar material, texture and edge characteristics and contains no writing, artwork or printing.
Its original purpose is unknown, so no provenance claim is being made based upon the accompanying sheet. It is simply included as it was found with the piece.
Very attractive vintage condition overall.
Please examine all photographs closely, including the detailed images of the paper surface, edges, printed lines and plate impression. Minor age-related toning or handling characteristics may be present.
The artwork was previously professionally framed and the frame can be included as shown.
This listing is for a vintage impression of the documented Picasso composition “Pour Roby.”
It is not being represented as a unique hand-drawn Picasso original and the Picasso signature is plate-signed rather than hand-signed.
The physical characteristics and dimensions closely correspond to examples identified in the auction market as the late-1960s Collector's Guild issue.
A wonderful opportunity to own one of Picasso's recognizable minimalist graphic compositions with an interesting and well-documented publication history.
Pablo Picasso (1881–1973)
Pour Roby / L’Âge de Soleil
Original composition: 1950
Vintage impression: circa 1968/1969
Etching / graphic work on paper
Plate signed and inscribed in reverse
Reference: Bloch 680 / Cramer 57