ArtBohemia

Marina Picasso was born to Picasso's son Paulo in 1951 and makes her home in New York, Geneva, and her grandfather's house in Cannes. She has two children, Gael and Flore, and has adopted three Vietnamese children, Florian, Mai, and Dimitri.
Since 1990 Marina has been working tirelessly to help abandoned and neglected children in Vietnam, and to that end she started the Marina Picasso Foundation. Her foundation has been a benefactor to Vietnamese orphanages and pediatric hospitals throughout that country.
Multitalented, Marina's other pursuits include show jumping, being very involved with the Cannes International Jumping Festival which each year includes the "Challenge Marina Picasso." She has also developed a famous perfume, "Chapeau Bleu," and has recently published a book about life with her famous grandfather.
Marina lends her collection of 400 paintings and over 7000 sketches, drawings, and sculptures to Picasso exhibitions around the world
In 1962, at the height of Pablo Ruiz Picasso's career, he produced a notebook of images that demonstrate the greatness of his talent.
The images in the notebook were never published, but Picasso left it to his granddaughter Marina Picasso after his death. Marina finally published the collection in 1980 in collaboration with the renowned chromist Marcel Salinas, who worked with Picasso on the famous "Imaginary Portraits" series. A master in the art of chromolithography, Salinas reproduced the images in this collection on hand-drawn lithographic plates.
This collection of posthumously published work is called The Marina Picasso Collection. It is also known as the Estate Collection, since the signed lithographs could not of course be approved and signed by the artist himself, but only by his estate.
In addition to the signed lithographs, a limited edition of un-signed posters was also published.

"Anything that pleases you is art - you make the choice. You shouldn't be ashamed to like or to not like - you should only be ashamed of not understanding. There are no art movements - just a sensibility to the new possibilities in art." -- Marcel Salinas
In 1962, at the height of Pablo Ruiz Picasso's career, he produced a notebook of images including "Visage 9.1.62 II" and "9.1.62 III" that demonstrate the greatness of his talent. The renowned lithographer and chromist Marcel Salinas collaborated with Picasso on the "Imaginary Portraits" series from 1969 to 1972. Salinas recreated the lithographs in the Estate Collection, to which both "Visage" images belong, on hand-drawn lithographic plates after Picasso's death in 1973.
Marcel Salinas
Salinas, called a "living treasure of the art world" by 20th Century Masters Gallery owner Jack West, matched Picasso in skill and talent in both painting and lithographs. His style was influenced by Paul Cezanne, Paul Gauguin, Juan Gris, and by his background in Egyptian art and architecture. Salinas saw Picasso's "Guernica," a powerful metaphoric statement on war, while the paint was still fresh.
Born in 1913 in Alexandria, Egypt, Salinas abandoned law to become a struggling young painter. Lithographs saved his career and his life. In 1955, he took a job at a Parisian print shop, and soon became a master painter while his renown as a printer and lithographer grew. He worked with major publishers and artists, such as Rene Magritte and Max Ernst, but his landmark collaboration was with Picasso.
A Unique Collaboration
Picasso, in addition to his genius as a painter, created a new standard for excellence in lithography, and part of the credit is due to his partnership with Salinas.
Picasso heard of Salinas' work when he was looking for new interpretations, rather than just copies, of his "Imaginary Portraits" painting series. He asked Salinas for two prototypes, and was as impressed with Salinas' work as Salinas was with "Guernica."
Between 1969 and 1972, Picasso and Salinas produced new versions of the "Imaginary Portraits" series, 29 works in all. Although Picasso was a solo genius, the collaboration between Picasso and the French/Italian Salinas was probably the most successful marriage or partnership in Picasso's lifetime. All 29 works are signed by both Picasso and Salinas.
When Marina Picasso wanted to publish lithographs of the paintings and sketches her grandfather left her, she immediately called on Salinas. The partnership between Picasso and Salinas has endured even after Picasso's death, and you see the result in the lithographs you will be privileged to own.
A Unique Process...A Collector's Item
After Picasso's death in 1973, Salinas created the lithographs using 100% acid-free museum Arches paper and exacting hand-drawn lithographic plates. You can see the high Picasso lithographic standard in the vividness and detail of "Visage II" and "Visage III."
There are no prior editions of these works and no rights for restrikes of signed limited editions of these images. The lithograph you purchase is one of a limited edition of 500.
The uniqueness of Picasso's collaboration with Salinas shows in every detail, particularly in Salinas' seal, which sits side by side with the seal of the Picasso Estate. Every time you look at the seals, and the fine beautiful lines of the lithographs, you'll know you own a piece of genius. Bring one into your home today.

The Story Behind the Creation of "Visage II" and "Visage III"
How does an artist like Picasso create a lithograph? And how did the images in the notebook become "Visage II" and "Visage III"? What is a lithograph, anyway?
What is a lithograph?
The lithograph was invented nearly 200 years before Picasso's birth. An artist like Picasso uses the printing method of lithography to create drawings or paintings by applying crayon or tusche and then ink to a prepared flat stone, metal or plastic plate. An example of a comparable lithograph is Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec's 1896 "Seated Female Clown, Mlle. Cha-U-Kao," rendered with crayon.
Marcel Salinas used a special form of lithography to create "Visage II" and "Visage III." Chromolithography allows an artist like Salinas to create already colored prints instead of applying color to prints after the prints are created on plates of stone.
Chromolithography, invented in 1860 by Louis Prang, allowed everyone to own classic and priceless works of art, which had before been only available to the wealthy. Chromolithography brings the valuable "Visage II' and "Visage III" to your home or office.

How is a lithograph created?
Rather than provide you with an art history textbook description of lithographs, and in particular chromolithography, we'll share a glimpse inside the studio of an artist, and take you through the procedure step-by-step. We do this to show you just how unique and detailed your beautiful new purchase is.
Beginnings, 1962
1) Picasso executes "Visage II" and "Visage III" on his notebook.
1969-1972
2) Picasso carves lithographic plates for the "Imaginary Portraits" series. In creating the lithographs he uses the basic lithography process in **An Artist's Method**.
1980
3) Marina inherits Picasso's notebooks and commissions the unique series of lithographs. She enlists Salinas for the task of chromolithography.
Salinas creates "Visage II" and "Visage III"...
An Artist's Method
Step 1: Marcel Salinas uses hand drawing on flat stone to create lithographic plates in the model of Picasso's plates for "Visage II." He applies crayon or tuche to the plates
Step 2: Marcel Salinas applies wet ink to the plates.
Step 3: Marcel Salinas positions the colors on each plate. This is known as printing each plate in register.
Step 4: Marcel Salinas creates a series of plates for each color in "Visage II". This gives the image more dimension and more richness of color, which distinguishes it from other lithographs.
Step 5: Salinas assembles the plates for each color:
*Black for hair, clothes, eyes, and outlines
*Yellow for cheeks, hands and nose
*Blue, darker for cheeks, hair, necks and faces, lighter for background
*Brown for clothes, eyes, outlines, hair and backgrounds
*Red for lips, fingernails and outlines
Step 6: Once the plates are ready, Marcel Salinas applies 100% acid-free museum Arches paper to each plate, forming the image one part at a time and one color at a time.
Step 7: Once the ink dries, Marcel Salinas and Marina Picasso apply the Picasso Estate and Salinas seals. They dry-stamp the date and the title in English and French, which adds to the collector's value.
Step 8: The lithographs are crated and sent to collectors and authorized resellers Alvah and Rita Cummins, who hold them back until the 1990s to sell to art lovers like you.
In 1962, at the height of Pablo Ruiz Picasso's career, he produced a notebook of images, which included "Visage 9.1.62 II" and "Visage 9.1.62 III," that demonstrate the greatness of his talent. These works were published postumously by Picasso's granddaughter, Marina Picasso, in collaboration with noted chromist Marcel Salinas. The reproductions of "Visage 9.1.62 II" and "Visage 9.1.62 III" are part of this collection.
>> More on The Marina Picasso Collection
Art collectors Rita and Alvah Cummins purchased the limited edition reproductions of "Visage II" and "Visage III" in 1980 and held back the lithographs until the present.

Each of the lithographs is hand-numbered from 1 to 500 and signed "Collection Marina Picasso" by Marina Picasso. All the lithographs bear the seal of the Picasso estate and a certificate of authenticity. SPADEM, the French society for the protection of copyrighted art, has endorsed and approved the Marina Picasso Collection. These works are some of the only editions approved by Picasso's family after his death.
Only 500 of each of these limited edition works exist, and each one has 34 Artist's Proofs. On the back of the lithographs, you'll find the official seal of the Picasso Estate, "Approved by the Heirs of Pablo Picasso." This seal is Marina's personal guarantee to you, the collector, that the reproduction is genuinely a part of the Picasso legacy. Additionally, on the back of each lithograph is a dry stamp indicating the name of the work and the date of publication. You will always know that you have a rare, limited edition lithograph.
In 1962, at the height of Pablo Ruiz Picasso's career, he produced a notebook of images, which included "Visage 9.1.62 II" and "Visage 9.1.62 III," that demonstrate the greatness of his talent. These works were published postumously by Picasso's granddaughter, Marina Picasso. The reproductions of "Visage 9.1.62 II" and "Visage 9.1.62 III" are part of this collection.

Art collectors Rita and Alvah Cummins purchased the limited edition poster reproductions of "Visage II" and "Visage III" in 1980 and held back the poster versions until the present. High quality hand-signed lithographs are also available.
The posters are printed on high quality poster board, not paper, and are a limited edition of 500. There are no permissions for re-strikes of this image, so once these 500 posters are gone, there will be no more! Your poster will truly be a rare Picasso reproduction.
Now, for a limited time only, you can purchase the set of two coordinating posters for $50 off the regular price.

1. How do I know this is the genuine article?
The lithographs have an embossed seal of the Picasso Estate, a dry stamp with the year of original printing and the year in English and French, and the penciled, hand signed signature of Marina Picasso, Pablo Picasso's granddaughter and heir.
2. How do I know that this hasn't been forged?
These items, printed in the early 1980's, have not been sold and re-sold over time. The origin of these lithographs can be traced directly back to 1980 when the Marina Picasso Collection came into being in conjunction with Jackie Fine Arts of New York. Picasso-Galleries.com is owned by Alvah and Rita Cummins of Las Vegas, Nevada; the original owners of these lithographs since they were purchased through Jackie Fine Arts. We are the legal owners of the copyrights to these images, and these limited edition lithographs are also approved by SPADEM, the French society for the protection of copyrighted works of art.
3. I purchased/saw a Picasso somewhere else. Can you tell me if it is genuine? Can you tell me how much it is worth?
No, we can't. While we guarantee the authenticity of the works we sell, we cannot tell you if some other work is genuine or how much it is worth. We recommend you contact a professional art appraiser in your area.
4. Do you ship outside of the USA?
Absolutely! We ship anywhere in the world.
5. Can I purchase these at volume or wholesale prices?
Yes, we can and do sell quantities of the lithographs for resale in art galleries. For more information on obtaining a volume discount for resale.
6. Can I get a low number of the limited edition?
Currently the numbers for both lithographs are under 50/500.
7. Do you offer a guarantee?
Yes! If for any reason your artwork arrives in less than perfect condition, it will be immediately replaced free of charge, upon return of the original.