Michel SIMA

n.d. [around 1948], Photograph: 17.3 x 21.3cm; Leaf: 18 x 24cm, one leaf.

Rare original photograph of Pablo Picasso turning towards one of his ceramic creations, taken by Michel Sima.
Contemporary silver print. Pencil inscription on the back. Very light scratch on the surface, not affecting the image.

“In September 1946, Pablo Picasso set up his workshop in the attic of the Château Grimaldi in Antibes, in a former “guards room” to which the curator Romuald Dor de la Souchère gave him the keys so that he could work there as he pleased. It is the artist Michel Sima, sculptor and photographer, who introduced the two men. Arriving from his native Poland in 1929, Sima, whose real name was Michel Smajewki, met Picasso in Paris, where he frequented the Académie de la Grande Chaumière and was the pupil of Zadkine. From mid-September to mid-November 1946 in Antibes, then from 1947-48 and until the beginning of the 50's in Vallauris, Sima regularly photographed Picasso, who willingly posed for the camera - alone or with his companion Françoise Gilot, in front of completed works or those in progress, staring at the lens, or on the contrary, focusing on his work” (Anne de Staël, L'Atelier des combles, 2009).

Sublime chiaroscuro shot of the master contemplating his work.
Provenance: Paul Destribats collection.

Original photograph of Pablo Picasso in his workshop in Vallauris with his ceramics and plaster
s.d. [around 1948], Photograph: 17.3 x 21.3cm; Leaf: 18 x 24cm, one leaf.

Splendid portrait of Pablo Picasso, taken by Michel Sima in Picasso's Madoura workshop in Vallauris with his ceramics and a plaster model of his Centaure (1948).

Contemporary silver print. Pencil inscription on the back.
Thanks to the author of this superb portrait, Picasso began his impressive ceramic production at the Madoura workshop, in the small town of Vallauris known for its pottery tradition. Sima photographed with vigour the master and his many creations exhibited on the bare walls of his workshop bathed with Mediterranean light. Picasso produced 2000 unique pieces between 1947 and 1948 and revolutionised the forms and techniques of this medium, to which he added fragments of pigments, saggar, broken bricks to the bellies of his ceramics in the form of owls, doves, fauna, invisible women...

"Au mois de septembre 1946, Pablo Picasso installe son atelier dans les combles du château Grimaldi d'Antibes, dans une ancienne "salle des gardes" dont le conservateur Romuald Dor de la Souchère lui a confié les clés pour qu'il y travaille à sa guise. C'est l'artiste Michel Sima, sculpteur et photographe, qui a fait se rencontrer les deux hommes. Arrivé de sa Pologne natale en 1929, Sima, de son vrai nom Michel Smajewski , avait fait la connaissance de Picasso à Paris, où il avait fréquenté l'Académie de la Grande Chaumière et été l'élève de Zadkine. De la mi-septembre à la mi-novembre 1946 à Antibes, puis en 1947-48 et jusqu'au début des années 50 à Vallauris, Sima photographiera régulièrement Picasso, qui se prête volontiers au jeu de la pose - seul ou avec sa compagne Françoise Gilot, devant des oeuvres terminées ou en cours d'achèvement, fixant l'objectif ou au contraire concentré sur son travail" (Anne de Staël, L'Atelier des combles, 2009).

Magnificent contrasting and brilliant print of Pablo Picasso in his creative sanctuary.
Provenance: Paul Destribats collection.

[Antibes] n.d. [1946], 23.9 x 17.7cm, one leaf.

Exceptional original photograph of Pablo Picasso by Michel Sima. The artist is holding and owl in front of his painting “Nature morte à la chouette et aux trois oursins” now in the Picasso Museum in Antibes.

Contemporary silver print. Pencil inscription on the back.

The photographer had entrusted Picasso with a wounded owl. Named Ubu, after Alfred Jarry's literary masterpiece, the bird kept the artist company in his atelier in Antibes and served as a model in many of his paintings, including the one that features in the background of this photograph.

Provenance: Paul Destribats collection.