Tailpiece (page 162) from the illustrated book Carmen
Pablo Picasso
Spanish, 1881–1973
1948-1949
A small engraved tailpiece by Pablo Picasso printed in the book Carmen, where the artist uses spare, calligraphic engraved lines as a playful page ornament to punctuate the text.
What strikes you is the airy economy of the marks—thin, curved and arrow-tipped strokes that together suggest an eye or fish-like emblem and directional gestures floating beneath the French text like a quick, elegant doodle turned deliberate.
The piece shows Picasso’s late-career knack for reducing imagery to essential signs and his influence on modern book illustration, merging fine art and graphic design into concise visual punctuation.
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
composition (irreg.): 5 13/16 x 5 1/16" (14.8 x 12.8 cm); page: 13 x 10 3/16" (33 x 25.8 cm)
Classification
Department
Credit
The Louis E. Stern Collection
Accession
993.1964.38
Palette
Art Terms
Exhibitions
