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Inscription

lower right: Picasso; upper right: 1903

Provenance

Possibly Alfred Flechtheim [1878-1937], Düsseldorf.[1] Professor Kreis, Düsseldorf, in 1913.[2] Paul Schüler [1876-1942] Bochum, Germany, by 1927 until c. 1929.[3] (Paul P. Rosenberg et Cie., Paris); sold 15 May 1930 to Chester Dale [1883-1962], New York; bequest 1963 to NGA.

[1] Dale records give "Flechtheim, Dusseldorf" as part of provenance, but this was not included in the 1965 NGA catalogue of the Dale Collection. The Flechtheim gallery operated by Alfred Flechtheim [1878-1937] first opened in Düsseldorf and later in Berlin.

[2] The painting was lent by Professor Kreis to a 1913 exhibition in Munich.

[3] The invoice from Paul Rosenberg to Chester Dale incorrectly names the prior owner as Mr. Schubert, Bochum. Information regarding Paul Schüler's ownership was kindly provided by Stefan Koldehoff (copies in NGA curatorial files). The incorrect name on the Rosenberg invoice suggests that he did not acquire the painting directly from Schüler.

Exhibition History
1913
Picasso, Moderne Galerie Heinrich Thannhauser, Munich, 1913, no. 8, repro., as Die Armen am Meer.
1931
Picasso-Braque-Léger, Museum of French Art, New York, 1931, no. 2.
1943
Twentieth Century French Paintings from the Chester Dale Collection, Art Institute of Chicago, 1943-1952 (extended loan), unnumbered catalogue, repro. p. 44
1952
Twentieth Century French Paintings from the Chester Dale Collection, National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1952, no. 48, repro.
1965
The Chester Dale Bequest, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., 1965, unnumbered checklist.
1978
Aspects of Twentieth-Century Art, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., 1978-1979, no. 3, repro.
1980
Post-Impressionism: Cross-Currents in European and American Painting 1880-1906, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., 1980, not in cat.
1997
Picasso: The Early Years, 1892-1906, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 1997-1998, no. 92, color repro., as Tragedy (shown only in Washington).
2010
From Impressionism to Modernism: The Chester Dale Collection, National Gallery of Art, Washington, January 2010-January 2012, unnumbered catalogue, repro.
Bibliography
1932
Zervos, Christian. Pablo Picasso. 33 vols. Paris, 1932-1978: 1(1957): no. 208, pl. 93.
1938
Pemberton, Murdock. "Ambassador to Art." Esquire (February 1938): repro.
1943
Twentieth Century French Paintings from the Chester Dale Collection. The Art Institute of Chicago, 1943:, 44, repro.
1952
Twentieth Century French Paintings from the Chester Dale Collection. National Gallery of Art. Washington, 1952 (2nd ed., 1960; rev. ed., 1965): 48, repro.
1960
Twentieth Century French Paintings from the Chester Dale Collection. National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., 1960 (2nd ed.): 50, repro.
1965
Summary Catalogue of European Paintings and Sculpture. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1965: 102.
1965
Twentieth Century French Paintings & Sculpture of the French School in the Chester Dale Collection. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1965 (rev. ed.): 69, repro.
1968
National Gallery of Art. European Paintings and Sculpture, Illustrations. Washington, 1968: 89, repro.
1975
European Paintings: An Illustrated Summary Catalogue. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1975: 266, repro.
1984
Walker, John. National Gallery of Art, Washington. Rev. ed. New York, 1984: 602, no. 936, color repro.
1985
European Paintings: An Illustrated Catalogue. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1985: 308, repro.
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