L’Absinthe, le poète Cornuty
Painted in Paris in the winter of 1902/3, and measuring just 30.5 x 24cm, this superb watercolour is one of Picasso’s most striking absinthe-related works - and, I think, the earliest. Picasso met Cornuty in Barcelona during one of the most difficult periods of his life, and the portrait of the rail-thin poet, emaciated and drawn and realised in sombre grey and blue shades, show the ravages of poverty and alcoholism. It’s the highlight of the remarkable collection formed by Andre Lefevre, and will be auctioned in Paris on December 21st. Estimate €1 500 000 to €2 500 000. Lefevre orginally bought the wwatercolour in 1966, for the then impressive sum of 160 000 francs. I’ll post the actual price realised after the sale.
