The Art Show

Booth A1

On the occasion of The Art Show, Almine Rech will showcase a rare selection of bon à tirer engravings by Pablo Picasso. These etchings are each unique works annotated by hand, by the artist, and signed "Bon à Tirer." They were created while working with the renowned Crommelynck printers. This exhibition offers significant insight into Picasso's mastery of the printmaking medium. 

"Picasso began making engravings in 1899 when he was 18 years old.… Between 1960 and 1971, the artist continued to produce engravings using copper plates. The 'Bon à Tirer' is the test print chosen by the artist from four tests directly from the engraved copper plate. It is the single, valid print which the entire numbered printing is based on and which took place after acierage. Acierage gives the copper plate the hardness of steel, which allows for 50 to 250 printings. This could not be done with an untreated copper plate, because copper is a soft metal that would have been crushed as more prints were made, warping the artist’s incisions.

The close personal relationship between the printers and the artist was such that Picasso, delighted with a successful test print, would distinctly write 'Bon à Tirer' in a magnificent handwriting, making the already unique BAT even more astonishing.

Picasso met the Crommelynck brothers when they were training at the Lacourière workshop from 1947 to 1956 and soon established a close relationship with them. Aldo and Piero Crommelynck opened their first workshop in Paris in 1956. A second one followed in Mougins in 1963 in order to continue working with the artist. They became Picasso's exclusive printers until his death in 1973."

— François Bellet, conservator at the Fundación Almine y Bernard Ruiz Picasso
Roquebrune, September 2023

Benefit Preview (by invitation only):
Tuesday, October 29, 2024, 1 — 8 pm

Public Days:
Wednesday, October 30, 2024, 12 — 7 pm
Thursday, October 31, 2024, 12 — 7 pm
Friday, November 1, 2024, 12 — 7 pm
Saturday, November 2, 2024, 12 — 6 pm

Park Avenue Armory
643 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10065

Tickets may be booked online here.