Original drawing that served as a model to illustrate the cover of the book of 5 lithographs "Denise" by Raymond Radiguet (Paris: Éditions de la Galerie Simon, 1926)

Pen and India ink on paper.

Executed circa 1925.

Quentin Laurens, the holder of the Droit Moral, has kindly confirmed that this work is registered in his archives.

Provenance

- Galerie Louise Leiris, Paris (no. 17010).

- Private collection, New York.

- Private collection, acquired from the above in 1990.

- Christie's London. Sale 15471 Impressionist and Modern Works on Paper. 28 February 2018.

Executed in 1925, during a period in the last few years of Juan Gris’ life which Daniel-Henry Kahnweiler considered the most fruitful of the artist’s career, this work on paper was used as the drawings for a lithograph that Gris produced as illustrations for Raymond Radiguet’s Denise, published by Galerie Simon the same year.

Gris’ graphic works are not numerous and the artist took up engraving fairly late in his rather short life.