Notes

Walter Battiss’s first trip overseas in 1949 was a personal quest to meet his favourite artist, Pablo Picasso, in Paris, a dream that became reality when Picasso’s agent, Henry Kahnweiler introduced him to the famous Spanish artist. While waiting for Kahnweiler to arrange the meeting, Battiss roamed the streets of Paris, making sketches of the well-known landmarks of the city. Battiss gave Picasso a copy of his book, The Artists of the Rocks (1948), and Picasso reciprocated with a lithograph of a bull. Picasso evidently asked him: ‘Tell me now, Battiss, am I as good as your Bushman artists?’¹

1. Murray Schoonraad (1976) Walter Battiss, Cape Town: Struik, page 16.

Provenance

Acquired by the current owner from the artist's estate.