Pablo Picasso, born in Málaga in 1881, started to paint at the early age of seven and a mere two years later completed his first oil painting, “Le Picador”. It was the start of an unequalled artistic career whose beginnings got underway in his fatherʼs painting classes.
Until his death in 1973 in Mougins, France, the artistic genius of the twentieth century produced more than 50,000 works ranging from drawings to ceramics and from poetry to sculpture and painting. These works include the dove of peace and his most famous work, “Guernica”, which depicted the destruction of the city of the same name during the Spanish Civil War. It was displayed for the first time at the International Fair in Paris in 1937, where it received the highest accolades. Even today, we are still impressed by the unique language of the shapes that will endure forever, along with their legendary creator, Pablo Picasso.
The Writer
Surrealist, impulsive, dazzling, spontaneous and with an absolutely extraordinary plasticity, Pablo Picasso’s writing was just as multifaceted as his painting. With uncontainable passion, he created a literary legacy of unique value between 1935 and 1959. Without fitting into any particular category and without worrying about the rules of grammar, this exceptional artist wrote three theatrical works as well as 300 poems in the form of a diary that ranged from simple prose to short, expressionist stories.
The Fountain Pens that Pay Homage to Pablo Picasso
Montblanc creates emblematic pieces to pay homage to distinguished historical or cultural personalities. There have been several pieces dedicated to Spaniards: in 2004 to Salvador Dalí with a limited edition of 100 items for the centenary of his birth; in 2007 to Joan Miró with a limited edition of 76 items, the date of the inauguration of his Foundation; in 2008 to Christopher Columbus with a limited edition of 92 items, the year of the discovery of America; in 2010 to Antoni Gaudí with a limited edition of 128 items alluding to the placing of the foundation stone of the Sagrada Familia 128 years ago; and this year, 2012 the Pablo Picasso edition is being presented.
To pay homage to Pablo Picasso, Montblanc is dedicating two special editions of fountain pens to this extraordinary painter: the Artisan Edition Pablo Picasso Limited Edition 39, and the Artisan Edition Pablo Picasso Limited Edition 91. The two share design characteristics, acknowledging both his recognition as the co-founder of the Cubist movement and the wide variety of styles expressed in his works. The design was mainly inspired by the writings of Picasso and by the drawing “Portrait de jeune fille” from 1936, while the silhouette of the two fountain pens is based on the shape of a pencil to symbolise the simplicity of Picasso himself and the nib engraving is based on the famous drawing “Ojo”.
Limited Edition of 91 Items
The 18 carat gold skeletonised cap has an opening that enables the 18 carat, rhodium plated gold nib to be seen. Engraved in black are comments and outlines by Picasso about his work “Portrait de jeune fille”. This famous work of art decorates the upper part of the cap with the distinctive face of the portrait represented in the clip.
The shape of the black lacquered body is reminiscent of the pencils with which Picasso drew a multitude of sketches. The cap has the Montblanc emblem emblazoned in mother-of-pearl. Picasso’s Spanish origins are featured masterfully on the end of the barrel with lacquered red bands between bands of 18 carat gold.
Only 91 writing instruments throughout the world make up this limited edition as a tribute to the number of years that the artist lived.
Limited Edition of 39 Items
The exclusive design of the edition, with its 18 carat gold cap, features engraved words in black about the work “Portrait de jeune fille” and the grey lacquered barrel is reminiscent of a pencil. The shape of the clip reflects the portrait of the same work.
The 18 carat gold rhodium plated nib is visible through an opening in the cap and is decorated with an engraving of the famous Picasso hallmark, the “Ojo”. The firmʼs emblem, the star, is featured as a Montblanc cut diamond in the upper part of the cap.
Only 39 items throughout the world make up this limited edition alluding to the number of paintings and drawings of Sylvette David, his muse.
Each edition will be available in September with prices of $33,800 for the LE 91 and $55,000 for the LE 39.
