Pablo Picasso - Composition 1948 large original color lithograph School Prints

Pablo Picasso. "Composition" 1948. Original color lithograph for the "School Prints" edition by Brenda Rawnsley ("Met Picasso's chauffeur – hatched a plot to 'bump into' Picasso next day… Swam and frolicked on Picasso's part of the beach… Lunched with Picasso, only revealing the scheme late afternoon. Picasso agreed for the love of 'les enfants du monde'... ") Printed by WSCowell Ltd. London. Signed and dated "Picasso Vallauris 7.10.48" on the plate.
Rarely! Most copies were distributed as educational material in English schools in the post-war period. There are very few works left that have not been worn out from school use; this sheet only shows minimal signs of aging.

Literature: - Tate Britain, accession no. P01718; - Hermann Wunsch "School Prints. A London art edition from the 1940s". Königswinter 1986, p. 68 f.

Brenda Rawnsley (31 July 1916 – 25 June 2007) was a British arts activist who developed and led the innovative School Prints program, which provided artwork to primary schools. She was honored for her services in the Second World War.
In 1946 she sent letters to numerous British artists: "We are producing a series of autolithographs... for use in schools to give school children an understanding of contemporary art." In 1947 Rawnsley flew to France and convinced Pablo Picasso (Composition, 1948), Georges Braque, Henri Matisse, Fernand Léger and Raoul Dufy to make lithographs for the School Prints program.