La Celestina

Pablo Picasso

SOLD OUT

An exclusive, limited and numbered work that shows Picasso at his most experienced and dynamic best, and in which the indefatigable artist displays his unconditional admiration of La Celestina, a classic from the 15th century.

Working in conjunction with Succession Picasso, Artika presents – for the first time in Spanish – a unique edition that features a selection of engravings chosen and arranged by the artist himself, and which illustrate one of his favourite books, the classic work by Fernando de Rojas.

The 66 engravings reproduced here are taken from Suite 347, a work that portrayed, on a day-by-day basis, everything that Picasso saw, heard, imagined and experienced in the France of May ‘68, including themes related to <La Celestina such as strength and the constant struggle of human life.

This deluxe edition, produced in the form of 2,998 copies, comes with a Study Book in which five authors open readers’ eyes to these two masterpieces and help us to enjoy them. The Study Bookexamines all the richness and detail of the stories and mischievous acts described in the two works.

A hand-made box in Antibes blue, inspired by this Mediterranean city that has such a lasting association with the artist, incorporates an aluminium case – embossed and engraved – which contains La Celestina and the Study Book, all watched over by Picasso’s thoughtful yet striking gaze.

La Celestina - Proceso de producción - Paso 1

To ensure perfect printing, the process is carried out in two stages. Each page is carefully checked, and then approved or discarded.

La Celestina - Proceso de producción - Paso 2

The binding process, which features fold-out pages, requires that the closing and folding of the pages to form the body of the book all has to be done by hand.

La Celestina - Proceso de producción - Paso 3

Owing to its size, the body of the book is sewn using a semi-manual machine and with cotton thread.

La Celestina - Proceso de producción - Paso 4

The aluminium plates with the author’s signature are embossed one by one, under close supervision.

La Celestina - Proceso de producción - Paso 5

The aluminium sheet is carefully and precisely transformed into a protective case for keeping the volumes in.

La Celestina - Proceso de producción - Paso 6

The two parts of the case are joined manually by means of precision welding.

La Celestina - Proceso de producción - Paso 7

Each case is made by hand from top-quality materials, to be then finished carefully by hand.

La Celestina - Proceso de producción - Paso 8

The case, lined with Antibes blue cotton cloth, has been made to last, and contains a fitted insert that slides out of the aluminium case.

La Celestina - Technical specifications - Estuche

Box

Lateral opening with double hinge

- Canapetta extra 1450 cotton fabric lining, Antibes blue
- Hand-made
- Exclusively produced, high-density foam insert with lateral hinges for easy removal from the aluminium case
- Cover interior: enlargement of photograph of Pablo Picasso in Vallauris, 1957
- Size: 44’7 x 44’7 x 9 cm

La Celestina - Technical specifications - Funda de aluminio

Aluminium case

Top die-cut with the painter’s signature

- Aluminium 5005 anodized matt imitation, 2mm thick
- Contains the book La Celestina and the Study Book
- Size: 35’5 x 35’5 cm

La Celestina

Number of pages: 444

- Reproduction of 66 engravings by Pablo Picasso
- Folded, bound and sewn, completely by hand
- Old Mill Bianco paper by Fedrigoni, 130 g
- Texts printed in two colours
- Engravings printed in three colours
- Paperback with semi-rigid cover, 400 g, embossed in matt silver
- Dust jacket in Old Mill Bianco paper, 300 g, embossed in matt silver, with second dust jacket in glassine, 70 g
- Size: 33 x 33 cm

La Celestina - Technical specifications - Libro de Estudios

Study Book

Number of pages: 144

- Old Mill Bianco paper by Fedrigoni, 130 g
- Printed in five colours
- Paperback bound with Old Mill Bianco paper, 300 g, embossed in matt silver
- Texts by five authors
- Black-and-white photographs of Pablo Picasso
- Size: 33 x 33 cm

(1881-1973) Throughout the world, cubism has one indisputable, iconic representative: Pablo Picasso. The Malaga-born artist is, without doubt, one of the greatest painters of the 20th century, and as such, he explored numerous artistic movements and became the inspiration for many other great artists. The artist worked in many different artistic genres, from sketching and painting to sculpture and ceramics, as well as stage design and costumes for theatre. Picasso left behind the richest personal artistic oeuvre our country possesses, a marvellous heritage of worldwide interest. Furthermore, Picasso was a great believer in the idea that art should not consist of simply applying a canon of beauty, but instead in what instinct and brains together were capable of conceiving beyond that canon.