Most of these images were prepared between 1930 and 1934. While admiring the gentle Marie-Thérèse, Pablo finds back the fiery impulses of his youth. Far away from Cubism, minotaurs and fauns approach with brutality or delicacy the snoozing women with appealing curves. The supplement up to the symbolic figure of 100 is assured in 1937 with three portraits of Ambroise Vollard.
At some time before 1934 the meeting of Picasso with Roger Lacourière changes the quality of graphics and printing. The drawings are getting richer. Picasso loves to experiment and he follows the instructions from his new printer who teaches to him the varied possibilities of chisel, aquatint and drypoint.
310 copies of each image are printed including 50 for a deluxe publication with wide margins on 51 x 39 cm sheet size. After the death of Vollard, this almost intact stock is acquired by the dealer Henri M. Petiet who will sell from it many single images. For this reason the original sets that are remaining complete are extremely rare. Picasso signed many sheets before and after the death of Vollard.
Here are below three examples of complete sets with wide margins of the Suite Vollard.
A set partially serialized by Picasso in Vollard's lifetime but fully signed by the artist was sold for CHF 2.65M including premium by Galerie Kornfeld on June 15, 2012.
A set acquired by Petiet and fully signed by Picasso was sold for £ 2,65M including premium by Sotheby's on June 19, 2013.
On November 14 in New York, Sotheby's sells the full collection assembled by Lacourière. The printer had retained proofs with beautiful tones executed before and during his participation. It is the rare case of a set that was not owned by Petiet but the plates are not signed. It is estimated $ 2M, lot 11.
SOLD for $ 2.53M including premium