The eight Pythian is the last classic illustrated by Picasso, after Ovid's Metamorphoses and Aristophane's Lysistrata. Picasso etchings illustrate three aspects of the athletic contest, described in Pindar's ode.
Pindar - VIII Pythique comprising four original drypoint etchings:
1 - Head of a Bearded Man (might well be an imaginary portrait of the poet)
2 - Young Man Marching to Combat (a young Aathlete about to begin the match)
3 - Young Man Facing Front (the triumphant athlete radiating beauty and strength)
4 - Man with Arms Folded (the vanquished athele of Pindar's Ode—a short, stocky man with folded arms and dark face)
Drypoint etchings on Arches Wove paper
Foglio: 20 1/8 x 13 5/16 inches | 51.1 x 33.9 cm
First - front cover: 9 3/8 x 4 5/16 inches | 23.8 x 10.9 cm
Second: 15 6/8 x 8 9/16 inches | 39.7 x 21.8 cm
Third: 15 9/16 x 8 9/16 inches | 39.6 x 21.7 cm
Fourth: 14 1/8 x 6 1/4 inches | 35.9 x 15.9 cm
Signed in pencil by the artist and numbered by the publisher, P.A. Benoit, Alès.
First edition: 44 copies, numbered from 1/44 to 44/44. This copy is number 5/44 PAB