Works on paper

This year, forthe second time, London drawings dealer Stephen Ongpin is one of the 17 exhibitors in the upstairs TEFAF Paper section, which was introduced three years ago and encompasses books, maps and photography as well as watercolours, prints and drawings.

A study of Nude Combing her Hair (Femme nue se coiffant) by Pablo Picasso, drawn in brush and red ink and red wash on light brown paper, is one of the stars of Stephen’s display this year. The 16 x 10½in (41 x 27cm) backed drawing is signed twice in pencil and numbered 3, and priced in the region of €450,000.

Also exhibiting in Paper for the second year are Daniel Crouchand Nick Trimming of Crouch Rare Books, London, who share a stand with Dutch dealers Antiquariatt Forum BV.

Both are specialists in antiquarian books, atlases and maps and to celebrate the fair’s silver jubilee will issue a joint catalogue this year featuring 25 exceptional items of stock each.

Daniel Crouch’s catalogue includes the recent discovery of three 17th century maps from the Dutch Golden Age: Blaeu andDoncker’s Paeskaerts of Europe, the Atlantic,and the Indian Ocean. These maps arecoloured by the “meester afsetter” (master colourist) Dirk Jansz van Stanten (1637/8-1708), and are priced at €1.1m for the three.

This year the TEFAF Paper section will play host to a loan exhibition entitled The Director’s Choice: Master Drawings from the Fondation Custodia in Paris. Included are studies by Leonardo da Vinci, Guercino, Rembrandt van Rijn and Peter Paul Rubens from the collection accumulated by Frits Lugt (1884-1970) and his wife To Lugt-Klever (1888-1969) which have rarely been shown in public.