May 21, 2015 - Sale 2385

Sale 2385 - Lot 260

Unsold
Estimate: $ 3,000 - $ 5,000
DUNCAN, DAVID DOUGLAS (1916- )
A pair of images depicting Picasso posing amongst his paintings at Villa La Californie, Cannes. Silver prints, each 13 1/2x8 7/8 inches (34.3x22.5 cm.), each with Duncan's signature and inscription, in ink, on recto. 1957; printed circa 1980s
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Additional Details

with--A whimsical series of 5 photographs depicting Picasso eating a fish and using the bones to create his unique "Bullfight and fish" ceramic charger. Silver prints, each approximately 10 1/4x6 1/2 inches (26x16.5 cm.), and the reverse, with a 5-window mat with Duncan's signature and inscription, in ink, on recto. 1957; printed circa 1980s.

Of the event, David Douglas Duncan explained: "After filleting a sole meunière with almost surgical precision, Picasso just picked up the bones to lick them clean. He looked like he was playing the harmonica and that's when I took the shot, without even noticing the vacant look in his eyes. […] Then he dropped the bones and disappeared down the hallway to the front door. When he came back he was holding a fresh lump of potter's clay in his hand. He'd eaten the fish and now he was going to immortalise its remains."

The charger that Picasso created, as well as a set of Duncan's photographs, is part of the collection at the Museo Picasso in Barcelona.