Picabia Francis - Woman Portrait - Pencil Drawing - 1940 - c.o.A

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Description

Superb portrait of a woman by Francis PICABIA circa 1940, who looks very much like Joséphine BAKER.

PICABIA was inspired … Read more Superb portrait of a woman by Francis PICABIA circa 1940, who looks very much like Joséphine BAKER.

PICABIA was inspired for the pose by a photograph by Pierre VERGER presented at the "Andalucia" exhibition in Sao Paulo in 1935, reprinted in the magazine "Mon Paris" of January 1936 (see last photo, which presents this illustration as well as 3 portraits of Josephine BAKER, by way of comparison). However, there are notable differences between this photograph and our drawing: missing hair barrette, different flower, higher forehead, elongated gaze, narrower smile...

PICABIA attended Josephine BAKER's first show in Paris, he also produced pencil portraits of celebrities like Marlene DIETRICH, Carole LOMBARD or Greta GARBO, it would therefore be entirely plausible that he produced a portrait of Josephine BAKER being inspired by this photograph.

The drawing was authenticated by the PICABIA committee on March 19, 2018 and was included in the catalogue raisonné of the work of Francis PICABIA.
The certificate of authenticity (see photo) will be sent to the buyer.

*** This drawing was presented by the prestigious New York gallery FINDLAY GALLERIES at the “Master drawings New-York” show from 01-26-2019 to 02-02-2019 (described as portrait of Josephine BAKER)

*** This drawing was auctioned on June 27, 2025 (Nouvelle Etude auction house, Paris), estimated at €20,000–€25,000 (plus buyer's premium of approximately 30%), authenticated by the expert Mr Chanoit, and titled "Portrait of Josephine Baker" (see photo).

In 2022, a painting by Francis PICABIA was sold for 10 million euros at auction (record) and its price continues to rise ; his drawings regularly exceed 50,000 euros !!

Drawing with pencil and stump on paper

27 x 18.5 cms (with high quality DELF frame and protective glass, approximately 52 x 43 cms)

Very good general condition, note a tiny scratch on the edge of the sheet on the right and a small discolored area in the upper left corner which was penciled by my restorer so that the sheet had a uniform color of paper.
These two defects, very few visible, are located outside the intact drawn part.

Signed "Francis PICABIA" at the bottom center

Photos taken in natural light

AUTHENTICITY GUARANTEED - SALE WITH INVOICE FROM OUR GALLERY "Galerie COINET, Andorra" See less