Pablo Picasso (1881-1973), Une vierge avec un oiseau, un homme avec un poisson et le petit Saint Jean, (A virgin with a bird, a man with a fish and little Saint John).

Lithograph from the series "347 engravings", Arches velin paper, dimensions 19 x 26 cm light
double passe-partout, 30 x 37 cm framed passe-partout, limited edition,
unnumbered, date of creation of engraving "29.3.68.'' p.g.
Publisher Playmen-Tattilo 1973 with portfolio "Con gli auguri di Playmen" ( With best
wishes from Playmen)
Adelina Tattilo owner of Playmen publishing house, was a very well-known and influential figure,
especially in Italy, where her magazine "Playmen" played a key role in the revolution of
customs in the 1960s and 1970s. She was referred to as "Italy's Hugh Hefner." Tattilo
was well-known in publishing and media circles, mainly in Europe. Her magazine was often
compared to the American "Playboy," and she even waged court battles with it over the
distribution rights in some markets. "Playmen" was distributed in some
European countries, but did not achieve the same global scale and recognition as "Playboy."
Pablo Picasso's series of works titled "347 engravings" is a collection of engravings that was created by the
artist in a very short period of time, between March 16 and October 5, 1968, when the artist
was 87 years old, is one of the most remarkable and prolific undertakings in his late
creativity. The series consists of 347 engravings and etchings that Picasso created in just
seven months, an astonishing achievement considering his age.
The series is full of bold, often provocative erotic scenes that explore the
human sexuality and the act of voyeurism. Picasso often depicted himself as an observer,
sometimes a clown or an old man who admires young, beautiful models. This is a reflection of
his own relationships with younger women despite his age.
Picasso's series 347, due to its subject matter and form, received a mixed and often
controversial reception, both among critics and the public. At the time
time, even though Picasso was already an established artist, this openness and directness, especially
in someone of his age, shocked and outraged many viewers. Some critics
interpreted the works as a sign of an old man's obsession with sex and youth, and even
accused Picasso of misogyny.
In some circles, the series was seen as an example of degenerate art,
unresponsive to "serious" social or artistic themes.
The 347 series is considered one of the key works of Picasso's late period,
demonstrating his enduring vitality, creativity and mastery of printmaking.