Baigneuses sur la plage (Bathers on the Beach)
Limited edition color lithograph on heavy paper • After Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881–1973). This is an authorized reproductive print, likely published by an estate or specialized printmaker.
Style & Movement
Neoclassical period / Return to Order; characterized by sculptural figuration, simplified volumes, and classical Mediterranean themes.
Medium & Technique
Lithography; a printmaking process using a flat stone or metal plate, featuring layered color applications to mimic the stippled texture and soft tonal transitions of the original painting.
Creation Period
Late 20th century (circa 1960s-1980s), based on the original painting from the 1920s.
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 65 x 50 cm (sheet size); Portrait format.
Subject Description
Three stylized women in vintage swimwear are depicted on a rocky shoreline. One standing figure adjusts her hair, one reclines in the center, and one sits with her back to the viewer. The background features a calm sea with a sailboat and a white lighthouse, evoking the French Riviera.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good/Fair. The print shows visible signs of rolling and handling, particularly along the bottom edge where tearing and creasing are evident.
Estimated Market Value
$500 - $1,200 USD (Subject to authentication of the publisher and paper type).
Auction Estimate
$300 - $800 USD.
Provenance History
Numbered '108/200' in pencil (lower left) with a printed signature (lower right). Typical of commercial gallery or museum shop editions intended for the secondary market.
Art Historical Significance
Represents Picasso's 'Neoclassical' phase, where he moved away from Cubism toward solid, monumental forms inspired by Greek and Roman art. The original composition is a seminal example of his beach-themed works during the 1920s.
Notable Features
Features a facsimile signature of Picasso and a specific edition number (108/200). The graininess of the sky and sea suggests a high-quality chromolithographic process rather than a digital reproduction.
Condition Issues
Significant creasing and a small tear at the bottom center edge where the hand is holding the paper; potential light waves from moisture or improper rolling; slight yellowing of the margins.
Conservation Recommendations
Professional flattening and archival mounting; UV-filtering glass for framing to prevent further fading; storage in a climate-controlled environment away from direct sunlight.