Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Portrait of a Young Girl and Grandma Pencil on paper ca. 1937-1940. The page measures 5 3/16 x 3 1/8 inches one edge torn with a triangular shape loss approx. 1" x 1", creases at the bottom and in upper left corner, a small tear restored with tape from the back at the center of the bottom edge. Double sided drawing one side showing a portrait of a small girl most likely Picasso's daughter María de la Concepción "Maya Maia" Widmaier-Picasso and and older plump lady most likely Marie Therese Walter's mother. Eventually Marie Therese's mother and sisters discovered the couple, and though resistant at first, quickly opened up to Walter's relationship with Picasso. They would even spend time together in her mother’s garden where Picasso would occasionally paint this is why she was a regular in Picasso's life at that time. The verso is a series of sketches including a loaf of Baguette bread, milk bottle, mixing bowl with spoon, Bowl, a plate, basket, tumbler and an animal maybe a sheep to mention a few. It is probable that Picasso drew these sketches to teach Maia words. On September 5th, 1935, Marie-Therese gave birth to Picasso’s child, who they named Maria de la Concepcion. The little girl mispronounced her name and it was changed once and for all into the name of a goddess: Maia.
This page was from a sketchbook where Picasso drew childish pictures when he wanted to amuse Maia, who was then between two and five years old approximately. The appearance of Maia so frequently depicted by her father is now the most exact reference we have to date them. And this leads us to place them between 1937 and 1940. (Many of the drawings are also believed to be by Maia or drawing with her father)
In these cartoons Picasso combines supreme wisdom with supreme innocence. The childish drawings are also the reverse side of Picasso’s blue period. Picasso’s point of view changes in these drawings - sometimes he strives to express the child’s world with patent awkwardness; at other times his great skill makes it clear that this is the work of a master.
This collection of childish drawings are almost completely joyful, innocent pieces, lacking in evil. Where evil does enter this collection, it seems to with great stealth. They’re not of a stormer nature, but rather they reveal Picasso’s state of mind at that moment.

Another page from the same Picasso sketchbook has been published (the book is included with this purchase) by Joseph Palau I Fabre, Rare Picasso, Barcelona. Editorial Piligrafa, S.A., 1977

Provenance Acquired from the Artist Collection of Marie-Therese Walter,  Galerie Jan Krugier Geneva Switzerland Acquired 1982 Private Collection, New York.

Jan Krugier was the exclusive dealer for the works by Pablo Picasso inherited by his granddaughter Marina Picasso and of the works of Joaquin Torres Garcia from the collection of his grandchildren.