How does this artwork elucidate its Background?
The prominent art dealer Ambroise Vollard played an influential role in launching and establishing Picasso's career as an artist. In 1901, when Picasso was aged just 19 years, Vollard presented his first exhibition, which resulted in the sale of many of Picasso's works. Despite this, Vollard did not consider the exhibition to be a success and he did not buy the remaining artwork. He did, however, buy several works from Picasso's Blue and Rose periods after Leo and Gertrude Stein started to collect Picasso's work. The professional relationship between Picasso and Vollard would last for many years, although it was not always harmonious, with Picasso complaining that Vollard had paid a low price for his work at the start of his career.
By 1910, Picasso's technique was becoming more abstract and his reputation grew as a Cubist painter. While searching for an art dealer, Picasso painted several portraits of art dealers, including Portrait of Ambroise Vollard. Vollard was also depicted by many other artists that he dealt with, including Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Paul Cézanne. Vollard published a print series of engravings and illustrated books in the 1920s and 1930s, which included works by Picasso, most notably the Vollard Suite. This significantly raised Picasso's profile as an artist in Europe and America. Although Picasso's reputation continued to grow, Vollard never offered him a contract.Vollard appreciated the significance of this painting, calling it "notable", but he was not taken by it and sold it to a Russian collector in 1913.
Rose Cubist Blue Vollard Suite Pierre-Auguste Renoir Ambroise Vollard Leo Gertrude Stein Paul Cézanne