ASSESSING THE MARKET VALUE OF THE WORK

PABLO PICASSO:
Tête (recto) Tête (verso)

Lot 9

MODERN & CONTEMPORARY EVENING AUCTION

4 MARCH 2025•19:00 GMT
•
LONDON
METHODOLOGY

Picture of Pablo Picasso 1962

Artwork created in 20th July 1967
 IDENTIFICATION
Tête (Head) (recto and verso)- Portrait
signed and dated 20.7.67; signed and dated 20.7.67 on the verso
recto: wax crayon on paper; verso: ink and wash on paper
37 by 27,3cm excluding frame; 77 by 67 by 7,5cm including frame

Picasso’s intentionality but playfulness (Self - portrait)

In this lot, there is a distinct difference between the two drawings done on
the same day, not only in the choice of media but also in his approach to
the subject. The heads exude very different characteristics. Picasso shows
a Playful side in this drawing using different colours for the recto which can
be liked to a child’s drawing and verso has an ink drawing style which is
similar to his Vollard Suite series (100etchings) in the 1930s. This piece
expressed his versatility

Pablo Picasso is from Málaga, Spain born in 1881.

Tete was likely executed at Chateau Vauvenargues, in Mougins in South of
France, Paris
Picasso lost his studio in Paris on the Rue des Grands-Augustins where he
had painted Guernica (1937)
Roland Penrose (a promoter, collector of Modern art) organised a Picasso
exhibition at the Tate Gallery in London, which later moved to the Museum of
Modern Art in New York
ONE OF LATE DRAWINGS: 6 YEARS
BEFORE DEATH (1973)

PABLO PICASSO EMPLOYED A STYLE

THAT, WHILE NOT STRICTLY
ADHERING TO A SINGLE MOVEMENT,
INCORPORATED ELEMENTS OF
CUBISM, SURREALISM AND
EXPRESSIONISM
 AUTHENTICATION
PROVENANCE
CHRISTIE'S, NEW YORK, 11 MAY 1989, LOT 219
NEDBANK SOUTH AFRICA (ACQUIRED BY 1996)
MICHAEL IMERMAN (ACQUIRED BY 1996)
PRIVATE COLLECTION, JOHANNESBURG (ACQUIRED BY 1998)
STRAUSS & CO, CAPE TOWN, 22 OCTOBER 2024, LOT 138
ACQUIRED FROM THE ABOVE SALE BY THE PRESENT OWNER

LITERATURE
CHARLES FELD (1969) PICASSO - DESSINS 27.3.66 - 15.3.68, PARIS: CERCLE D'ART, ILLUSTRATED AS NO. 236.
CHRISTIAN ZERVOS (1973) PABLO PICASSO, PARIS: CAHIERS D' ART, VOL. 27, RECTO ILLUSTRATED ON
PAGE 24 AS NO. 78 AND VERSO ILLUSTRATED ON PAGE 28 AS NO. 85.
THE PICASSO PROJECT (2002) PICASSO'S PAINTINGS, WATERCOLOURS, DRAWINGS AND SCULPTURE.
THE SIXTIES II 1964 - 1967, SAN FRANCISCO: ALAN WOFSY FINE ARTS, ILLUSTRATED ON PAGE 374 AS NO.
67.
EVALUATION
Scarcity
Rarity - 1/1 Original work + a double-sided work

Although Picasso produced an enormous number of works

including over 20,000 paintings, prints, drawings, sculptures,
ceramics, theatre sets and costumes- (Met Museum, 2004), Some
of his works are still rare and distributed around the world,
collected by diverse collector and most of his works are not
cheap in the market today.

EVALUATION
Artist’s Reputation
Picasso is one of the most important, influential and celebrated artist of the 20th century, and his impact and influence
on art remains unparalleled. He continued working until he died in 1973 at the age of 91, leaving behind a legacy that
forever changed the course of modern art. His works conveyed myriad intellectual, political, social, and amorous
messages. His creative styles transcend realism and abstraction, Cubism, Neoclassicism, Surrealism, and
Expressionism.
EVALUATION
Established and International
Galleries, Museums, Private
EVALUATION
Collectors

Guggenheim Museum New York

The British Museum LEONARDO DICAPRIO
National Gallery of Art STEVEN COHEN
Gagosian Gallery MADONNA
Tate François Pinault,
Musée PicassoParis
Picasso Museum Barcelona
Jack Nicholson,
MOMA - Museum of Modern Art the Niarchos family
British Museum Morgan Stanley,
The Art Institute of Chicago.
Walker Art Gallery
 Market Trend
Consistent commercial
Pablo Picasso's artwork
and Museum exhibition
remains highly sought after,
activity with prices generally rising
and strong demand,
especially for his original
works and prints, despite
some ups and downs in the
market

ArtBroker
Previous Sale EVALUATION
Auction: Strauss & Co is the leading art
auction house in Africa, specialising in
modern and contemporary art
The International Sale
Live Virtual Auction, 22 October 2024, 7pm
Evening Sale - www.straussart.co.za
SOLD FOR ZAR 7 200 000 incl. Buyer’s
premium & VAT
Why I believe Tête (RECTO);
EVALUATION
Tête (VERSO) had these
estimates and was sold
above the estimates?
ARTIST’S REPUTATION - PABLO PICASSO
WAS AN ESTABLISHED ARTIST
THE WORK IS AN ORIGINAL PIECE THAT
WAS DONE AT A VERY IMPORTANT TIME
OF THE ARTIST LIFE - LOST HIS STUDIO
AND 6 YEARS BEFORE HIS DEATH
50 YEARS AFTER HIS DEATH, PICASSO IS
STILL IN DEMAND AMONG COLLECTORS
ALTHOUGH PICASSO IS IN DEMAND, THE
WORK WAS SOLD LAST YEAR 2024. I
BELIEVE IT COULD HAVE BEEN SOLD
FOR MORE THAN 200% IF THE SELLER
HAD HOLD ON TO THE WORK FOR MORE
YEARS
Thank You
Biblography

1. Voorhies, J. (2000–). Pablo Picasso (1881–1973). In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Available at:
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/pica/hd_pica.htm [Accessed 14 March 2025].
2. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. (n.d.). Pablo Picasso (1881–1973). Available at: https://www.metmuseum.org/essays/pablo-picasso-1881-1973 [Accessed 14 March 2025].
3. Strauss & Co. (2024). Lot 336 - 22 October 2024. Available at: https://www.straussart.co.za/auctions/lot/336-22-oct-2024/138 [Accessed 15 March 2025].
4. MyArtBroker. (n.d.). Pablo Picasso: La Suite Vollard. Available at: https://www.myartbroker.com/artist-pablo-picasso/series-la-suite-vollard [Accessed 14 March 2025].
5. Christie's. (n.d.). Pablo Picasso: A Style Guide. Available at: https://www.christies.com/en/stories/pablo-picasso-a-style-guide-deb283fbb1474f59bda33a5997164ae0 [Accessed
14 March 2025].
6. Musée Picasso Paris. (n.d.). Picasso Timeline. Available at: https://www.museepicassoparis.fr/en/picasso-timeline[Accessed 15 March 2025].
7. National Gallery of Art. (n.d.). Picasso: The Early Years. Available at: https://www.nga.gov/features/slideshows/picasso-the-early-years.html#slide_4 [Accessed 15 March 2025].
8. Artnet. (n.d.). Pablo Picasso: Tête recto-tête verso. Available at: https://www.artnet.com/artists/pablo-picasso/tête-recto-tête-verso-vk2H1SMw71d0bG7SimuXBA2 [Accessed 14
March 2025].
9. History Insights. (n.d.). Picasso's First Exhibition. Available at: https://historyinsights.com/picasso-first-
exhibition/#:~:text=On%2024%20June%201901%2C%20Picasso,natural%20talent%20as%20an%20artist [Accessed 15 March 2025].
10. The New Yorker. (1939). Pablo Picasso: One Man Group. Available at: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1939/12/09/pablo-picasso-one-man-group# [Accessed 15 March
2025].
11. MyArtBroker. (2024). Pablo Picasso: Events and Exhibitions 2024 & Beyond. Available at: https://www.myartbroker.com/artist-pablo-picasso/articles/pablo-picasso-events-
exhibitions-2024-beyond [Accessed 14 March 2025].
12. MyArtBroker. (n.d.). Pablo Picasso Buyer Guide. Available at: https://www.myartbroker.com/artist-pablo-picasso/guides/picasso-buyer-guide# [Accessed 14 March 2025].
13. Tate. (2018). Picasso 1932: Year of Wonders. Tate Etc., Issue 42. Available at: https://www.tate.org.uk/tate-etc/issue-42-spring-2018/picasso-1932-year-of-wonders# [Accessed 15
March 2025].
14. Artsy. (n.d.). 50 years after Picasso’s death: The demand among collectors. Available at: https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-50-years-death-picasso-demand-collectors
[Accessed 14 March 2025].
15. MyArtBroker. (n.d.). Pablo Picasso Buyer Guide. Available at: https://www.myartbroker.com/artist-pablo-picasso/guides/picasso-buyer-guide# [Accessed 15 March 2025].