Mademoiselle Léonie from Saint Matorel

Mademoiselle Léonie from Saint Matorel by Pablo Picasso is a foundational example of 20th-century graphic arts, executed in 1910 and formally published the following year in 1911. This particular impression is a masterful etching, created as part of an illustrated book that contained four distinct plates, one of which prominently incorporates drypoint technique. Reflecting the artist’s inherent Spanish culture and training, the work demonstrates Picasso’s early and serious engagement with printmaking as a means of extending his revolutionary aesthetic explorations beyond traditional painting.

The image served as an illustration for the novel Saint Matorel by Max Jacob. While this specific 1910 period is often associated globally with the deconstructed geometry of Analytical Cubism, Picasso utilizes the sharp, expressive capabilities of the etched line to render this figurative subject. These early Picasso prints are exceptionally significant within his oeuvre as they mark his first major collaboration on an artiste-illustré book project—a genre that would become central to his prolific output for decades. The deliberate handling of the etching medium allows for subtle tonal variations and deep textural effects, achieved through careful plate preparation and precise line work, distinguishing this Illustrated Book component from the oil canvases he produced concurrently.

The importance of this work lies in its documentation of the artist navigating various stylistic influences simultaneously. The inclusion of the 1910 date and the 1911 publication date highlights a pivotal moment in modernist graphic art just before the artist fully transitioned into his mature Cubist phase. This powerful print, illustrating a literary subject, is securely held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York, confirming its status among the definitive holdings of early 20th-century masterworks.