Pablo Picasso

PABLO PICASSO — Signed
Picasso
by Jean Cassou (1940)

Artist: Pablo Picasso (1881–1973)
Title: Picasso
Author: Jean Cassou
Translator: Mary Chamot
Publisher: The Art Book Publications / The Hyperion Press
Publication Date: 1940
Format: Hardcover in original cloth boards
Signature: Signed “Picasso” in ink on the title page

Description

Offered here is an exceptionally desirable signed volume associated with one of the most influential artists in modern history: Pablo Picasso. This 1940 edition of Picasso by noted French writer and art historian Jean Cassou bears Picasso’s unmistakable autograph on the title page, signed simply “Picasso” in his characteristic abbreviated hand and accompanied by the sweeping underline that became one of the defining features of his mature signature.

The volume was published during a pivotal period in both Picasso’s life and twentieth-century art. By 1940, Picasso had already transformed the course of modern painting through the development of Cubism and had firmly established himself as one of the most important artistic figures of the age. The appearance of a signed publication from this era places the autograph squarely within the artist’s mature and most historically significant period.

Unlike signed prints or later mass-produced memorabilia, signed books such as this were generally acquired through personal encounters, gallery exhibitions, literary circles, publishers, dealers, or private introductions. As a result, genuinely signed Picasso books remain highly sought after by collectors seeking artifacts that establish a direct connection to the artist himself.

The title page provides an especially attractive presentation. Picasso’s signature occupies a prominent location beneath the printed text, allowing the autograph to stand alone without distraction. The clean page, generous margins, and strong contrast between the ink signature and the paper create a display quality often absent from signed books.

Jean Cassou, one of France’s most respected art historians and literary figures, was among the early scholars to chronicle Picasso’s revolutionary artistic achievements. The combination of a contemporary study of the artist and Picasso’s own signature makes the volume particularly appealing to collectors of modern art, twentieth-century cultural history, and museum-quality autographs.

Historical Importance

Few individuals have exerted a greater influence on the visual arts than Pablo Picasso. As co-founder of Cubism and a pioneering force in painting, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, and stage design, Picasso fundamentally altered the course of artistic expression in the twentieth century.

His works reside in the world’s most important museums and command some of the highest prices ever achieved for modern art. Consequently, authentic signatures of Picasso remain among the most desirable and internationally recognized autographs in the art market.

Signed books occupy a unique place within Picasso collecting. They combine the scarcity of authentic autographs with the historical context of publications produced during the artist’s lifetime, offering collectors an artifact that is both personal and scholarly in nature.

Condition

Bound in original beige cloth boards stamped with the title on the front cover. The binding exhibits light handling wear, minor rubbing, and age-related toning acquired over eight+ decades of careful preservation. Interior pages remain generally well preserved with expected light age toning. The title page is clean and presents the autograph attractively. Picasso’s signature remains bold, legible, and visually striking.

Overall, the volume presents as a well-preserved signed example suitable for advanced autograph, art, or museum-quality collections.