Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) (after) - "Don Quijote, 1955" - (60x80cm)

- Pablo Picasso (after), authorized offset on heavyweight smooth satin paper (approx. 300gsm, refers to paper thickness/density). 2000s

- Plate signed.

- Stamp on verso.

- Ready to frame. The pic in which the item appears framed is a simulated recreation for illustrative purposes only, the frame and other decorative elements shown in it are not included in the lot you are bidding on.

- Size: 60 x 80 cm.

- Condition: excellent. Never framed, never exposed.

- More lots currently at auction: https://www.catawiki.com/es/u/7684787-yuke

- Pablo Picasso’s Don Quixote (1955) transforms one of the great figures of Spanish literature into an image of extraordinary graphic economy. Created for the 350th anniversary of the first part of Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quixote, the composition depicts the gaunt knight on Rocinante beside the stockier Sancho Panza and his donkey, beneath a blazing Castilian sun and surrounded by the windmills that have become inseparable from the story. With little more than energetic black strokes, dots and irregular masses of ink, Picasso captures the contrast between Don Quixote’s elongated, almost skeletal idealism and Sancho’s compact earthiness. The spontaneous appearance conceals remarkable visual control: figures, animals and landscape remain instantly legible despite their radical simplification. Produced during Picasso’s mature period, the work demonstrates how completely he could abandon conventional modelling while retaining character, movement and narrative, connecting his lifelong fascination with Spanish culture to the expressive freedom of modern drawing.

Its stark black-and-white palette gives Don Quixote exceptional versatility as a decorative work. It works beautifully in Mediterranean, Spanish, rustic-chic, Mid-Century Modern, contemporary, minimalist and eclectic interiors, particularly against cream, warm white, stone, terracotta, sage, dusty blue, muted burgundy or deep petrol walls. A simple black frame emphasizes its graphic modernity, while dark walnut or antique gold creates a more classical dialogue with the literary subject. Natural wood, leather, linen, wrought iron, ceramics, travertine and aged brass complement its distinctly Spanish character, making it particularly effective in a library, study, living room or reading corner. Its combination of literature and modern art also makes it an especially meaningful gift for admirers of Picasso, Cervantes, Spanish culture and classic literature.

Don Quixote has become one of Picasso’s most immediately recognizable graphic images, distilling a universally familiar literary character into the unmistakable visual language of twentieth-century modernism. It naturally appeals to those interested in Cervantes and Spanish culture as well as admirers of Miró, Dalí, Matisse, Chagall, Kandinsky, Klee, Calder and later figures such as Warhol, Basquiat, Haring, Hockney, Banksy, Shepard Fairey, Kaws and Karl Lagasse. Its elegant economy of line also gives it an affinity with modern design and collecting culture associated with Cartier, Rolex, Patek Philippe, Chanel, Dior, Hermès and Gucci, while the enduring cultural status of Don Quixote gives the image a cross-generational appeal comparable to other universally recognized icons, from Lego and Star Wars to Pokémon.