Pablo Picasso
802


Graphics

Young Picasso’s pencil drawings (“Pigeons” (1890) can be considered his first graphic works; then, he continued practicing graphics parallel to creating painting and sculptural compositions as well as those related to applied and decorative arts. His cooperation with “Russian Ballet”, Dyagilev’s ballet company, resulted in creating numerous pencil linear portraits: those of Dyagilev, Bakst, Stravinsky, Sati, de Falla, and Derain as well as more complicated stroked sketches of Myasin, Cocteau and Ansermet where certain caricature features are noticeable. At the same time images of ballet dancers were created in the neoclassical style. But Picasso remains true to himself: if only you enlarge hands, the image of the ballet dancer who is “so airy and appealing for kisses”, turns out to be ironically tinted.

In the 1920s Picasso makes illustrations to books of poems and amuses himself with graphic copies of photographs. In 1927 he illustrates “The Unknown Masterpiece” by Balzac and later creates cycles of graphic works to illustrate “Metamorphoses” by Ovid (1930) and “Lysistrata” by Aristophanes (1934). Classical mythology as a language which can be used to tell about modern times provoked interest of not only men of letters in the 20th century. Mythological images fascinated Picasso as well. In “Metamorphoses” he uses the same laconic outline drawing conveying movement of figures in a few perspectives at the same time. Each composition is framed freehand.

From 1930 to 1936 Picasso creates the so called “Vollard Suite”. Among 100 engravings made for collector Ambroise Vollard, most plates (46) are dedicated to the theme called “the Sculptor’s Studio”. His affair with young Marie-Thérèse Walter was reflected in the series reconsidering the story of Pygmalion and his Galatea ("Sculptor"). The second theme by the number of works (15) is the myth of the Minotaur, a bull-headed man, who can be seen as personification of the artist himself (“the Blind Minotaur, Guided by a Girl”).

In 1937 Picasso creates the anti-fascist series of etchings “Dream and Lie of Franco” and after the war, in 1949, his poster for the World Peace Congress becomes widely known. In the 1940-50s a man with a bull mask appears in lithographs instead of the Minotaur (“Dance of the Banderillas”). Brutality gave way to play. The play was continued by Picasso in the last years of his fruitful life. He started playing with well-known works of art creating their numerous variations including graphic ones. These comprise “Las Meninas” by Velasquez, the “Luncheon on the Grass” by Manet (including that in the linocut technique) and variations on the theme of Ingres’s paintings.

From 1950s to 1970s Picasso was very active. He still worked when he was 80 and 90 years old. In 1968 Picasso created 347 engravings ("Suite 347") in seven months. The artist made one plate each day (sometimes more). Experimenting with techniques he tried pickling, aquatint and dry point. Suite 347 can be considered the master’s diary where fancy and biographical events are intertwined. These include 66 engravings illustrating the piquant novel “La Celestina” by Fernando Rojas, playing with predecessors’ works, theater and circus stories.

Picasso became a mythological Midas in art turning everything he touched into gold. There was an episode which can be an illustrative example: Picasso decided to commission some furniture and drew a sketch of it for a cabinet maker. When asked about the price, the cabinet maker answered it was enough to sign his sketch. Isn’t that a graphic work by the great master?

Pablo Picasso. Bullfight and Pigeons, 1890
Bullfight and Pigeons, 1890
Pablo Picasso. Pigeons, 1890
Pigeons, 1890
Pablo Picasso. Woman Malaga, 1891
Woman Malaga, 1891
Pablo Picasso. Study for a torso, 1892
Study for a torso, 1892
Pablo Picasso. Profile of human rights, 1892
Profile of human rights, 1892
Pablo Picasso. Matador, 1897
Matador, 1897
Pablo Picasso. Naked woman sitting, 1899
Naked woman sitting, 1899
Pablo Picasso. Dancer and women, 1900
Dancer and women, 1900
Pablo Picasso. In the lodge (Portrait of Jane Avril), 1901
In the lodge (Portrait of Jane Avril), 1901
Pablo Picasso. self-portrait, 1901
self-portrait, 1901
Pablo Picasso. maternity, 1903
maternity, 1903
Pablo Picasso. The Frugal Meal, 1904
The Frugal Meal, 1904
Pablo Picasso. Picasso and S. Junyer-Vidal sitting near Celestine, 1904
Picasso and S. Junyer-Vidal sitting near Celestine, 1904
Pablo Picasso. The kiss, 1904
The kiss, 1904
Pablo Picasso. Family of acrobats, 1905
Family of acrobats, 1905
Pablo Picasso. Head of a Woman: Madeleine, 1905
Head of a Woman: Madeleine, 1905
Pablo Picasso. Harlequin with child, 1905
Harlequin with child, 1905
Pablo Picasso. Portrait of Fernande, 1906
Portrait of Fernande, 1906
Pablo Picasso. Taurus, 1906
Taurus, 1906
Pablo Picasso. Raymonde head, 1907
Raymonde head, 1907
Pablo Picasso. Portrait of Ambroise Vollard, 1910
Portrait of Ambroise Vollard, 1910
Pablo Picasso. Man head, 1910
Man head, 1910
Pablo Picasso. Man head, 1910
Man head, 1910
Pablo Picasso. Man with Guitar, 1911
Man with Guitar, 1911
Pablo Picasso. Head of Spanish, 1911
Head of Spanish, 1911
Pablo Picasso. Man head with pipe, 1911
Man head with pipe, 1911
Pablo Picasso. Standing Woman, 1911
Standing Woman, 1911
Pablo Picasso. Man head, 1912
Man head, 1912
Pablo Picasso. Standing Woman, 1912
Standing Woman, 1912
Pablo Picasso. Man head, 1912
Man head, 1912
Pablo Picasso. Bottle of Bass, guitar, newspaper and glass on a square table, 1913
Bottle of Bass, guitar, newspaper and glass on a square table, 1913
Pablo Picasso. Portrait girl [study], 1914
Portrait girl [study], 1914
Pablo Picasso. Man with pipe seat and tuck [Man with pipe elbows on a table], 1914
Man with pipe seat and tuck [Man with pipe elbows on a table], 1914
Pablo Picasso. Portrait of Olga Khokhlova, 1917
Portrait of Olga Khokhlova, 1917
Pablo Picasso. self-portrait, 1917
self-portrait, 1917
Pablo Picasso. Love, naked, Harlequin and Pierrot playing guitar, 1918
Love, naked, Harlequin and Pierrot playing guitar, 1918
Pablo Picasso. Pierrot wolf, 1918
Pierrot wolf, 1918
Pablo Picasso. Olga Picasso lengthened on a sofa, 1918
Olga Picasso lengthened on a sofa, 1918
Pablo Picasso. Three Dancers, 1919 - 1920
Three Dancers, 1919 - 1920
Pablo Picasso. Group of Dancers. Olga Kokhlova is Lying in the Foreground, 1919 - 1920
Group of Dancers. Olga Kokhlova is Lying in the Foreground, 1919 - 1920
Pablo Picasso. Portrait of Olga, 1919
Portrait of Olga, 1919
Pablo Picasso. Leonide Massine picture, 1919
Leonide Massine picture, 1919
Pablo Picasso. Woman with pitcher, 1919
Woman with pitcher, 1919
Pablo Picasso. Compotier, 1919
Compotier, 1919
Pablo Picasso. Dancers, According to operative photograph, 1919
Dancers, According to operative photograph, 1919
Pablo Picasso. Still life on a pedestal in front of a window open1, 1919
Still life on a pedestal in front of a window open1, 1919
Pablo Picasso. The Siesta I, 1919
The Siesta I, 1919
Pablo Picasso. Portrait of Igor Stravinsky, 1920
Portrait of Igor Stravinsky, 1920
Pablo Picasso. Man with carrycot, 1920
Man with carrycot, 1920
Pablo Picasso. Woman with hat sitting in a chair, 1920
Woman with hat sitting in a chair, 1920
Pablo Picasso. Seated Woman, 1920
Seated Woman, 1920
Pablo Picasso. study of hands, 1920
study of hands, 1920
Pablo Picasso. Olga Writing, 1920
Olga Writing, 1920
Pablo Picasso. Reading woman (Olga), 1920
Reading woman (Olga), 1920
Pablo Picasso. Paris, 1920
Paris, 1920
Pablo Picasso. Head of a Woman, 1921
Head of a Woman, 1921
Pablo Picasso. Head of a Woman, 1921
Head of a Woman, 1921
Pablo Picasso. Three women at the fountain 2, 1921
Three women at the fountain 2, 1921
Pablo Picasso. Olga bedridden, 1921
Olga bedridden, 1921
Pablo Picasso. Mother and Child, 1921
Mother and Child, 1921
Pablo Picasso. Guitar, 1922
Guitar, 1922
Pablo Picasso. Bebe Paulo, 1922
Bebe Paulo, 1922
Pablo Picasso. Bust of a woman's arm leves, 1922
Bust of a woman's arm leves, 1922
Pablo Picasso. Acrobat rest, 1922
Acrobat rest, 1922
Pablo Picasso. Acrobat riding, 1922
Acrobat riding, 1922
Pablo Picasso. Portrait of Olga, 1923
Portrait of Olga, 1923
Pablo Picasso. Head boy, 1923
Head boy, 1923
Pablo Picasso. Olga in fur collar, 1923
Olga in fur collar, 1923
Pablo Picasso. Female bust, 1923
Female bust, 1923
Pablo Picasso. Head of a Woman, 1923
Head of a Woman, 1923
Pablo Picasso. Portrait of Olga, 1923
Portrait of Olga, 1923
Pablo Picasso. Head of young man [Face left three-quarters], 1923
Head of young man [Face left three-quarters], 1923
Pablo Picasso. Portrait of Paulo, 1923
Portrait of Paulo, 1923
Pablo Picasso. Face female study, 1925
Face female study, 1925
Pablo Picasso. Still Life with torso and pallet, 1925
Still Life with torso and pallet, 1925
Pablo Picasso. Standing Woman, 1926
Standing Woman, 1926
Pablo Picasso. Head of a Woman, 1926
Head of a Woman, 1926
Pablo Picasso. Head of a Woman, 1926
Head of a Woman, 1926
Pablo Picasso. Abstract Guitar, 1926
Abstract Guitar, 1926
Pablo Picasso. Figure, 1927
Figure, 1927
Pablo Picasso. Seated Woman, 1927
Seated Woman, 1927
Pablo Picasso. Figure, 1927
Figure, 1927
Pablo Picasso. Head of a Woman, 1927
Head of a Woman, 1927
Pablo Picasso. Visage, 1928
Visage, 1928
Pablo Picasso. Head, 1929
Head, 1929
Pablo Picasso. Female acrobat [L`acrobate], 1930
Female acrobat [L`acrobate], 1930
Pablo Picasso. Red background on head, 1930
Red background on head, 1930
Pablo Picasso. Figure (Head of a Woman), 1930
Figure (Head of a Woman), 1930
Pablo Picasso. Maternity, 1930
Maternity, 1930
Pablo Picasso. Flower-woman (Marie-Therese elongated), 1931
Flower-woman (Marie-Therese elongated), 1931
Pablo Picasso. Still life with tulips, 1932
Still life with tulips, 1932
Pablo Picasso. Minotaur, 1933
Minotaur, 1933
Pablo Picasso. Blind Minotaur led by a little girl, 1934
Blind Minotaur led by a little girl, 1934
Pablo Picasso. Front head (Marie-Therese portrait Front), 1934
Front head (Marie-Therese portrait Front), 1934
Pablo Picasso. Minotaur with a Javelin and Woman Hostage, 1934
Minotaur with a Javelin and Woman Hostage, 1934
Pablo Picasso. Woman with candle fight between the bull and the horse, 1934
Woman with candle fight between the bull and the horse, 1934
Pablo Picasso. Minotauromachie, 1935
Minotauromachie, 1935
Pablo Picasso. Maya has three months, 1935
Maya has three months, 1935
Pablo Picasso. Head of a Woman, 1936
Head of a Woman, 1936
Pablo Picasso. Pigeon, 1936
Pigeon, 1936
Pablo Picasso. Portrait of Dora Maar, 1937
Portrait of Dora Maar, 1937
Pablo Picasso. Portrait of Dora Maar with necklace, 1937
Portrait of Dora Maar with necklace, 1937
Pablo Picasso. Weeping Woman with scarf, 1937
Weeping Woman with scarf, 1937
Pablo Picasso. Portrait of Dora the bun, 1937
Portrait of Dora the bun, 1937
Pablo Picasso. Weeping Woman I (III), 1937
Weeping Woman I (III), 1937
Pablo Picasso. sleeper, 1937
sleeper, 1937
Pablo Picasso. Weeping Woman, 1937
Weeping Woman, 1937
Pablo Picasso. Head of Minotaur, 1937
Head of Minotaur, 1937
Pablo Picasso. Weeping Woman, 1937
Weeping Woman, 1937
Pablo Picasso. Head of a Woman, 1937
Head of a Woman, 1937
Pablo Picasso. Weeping Woman, 1937
Weeping Woman, 1937
Pablo Picasso. Portrait of Dora Maar, 1937
Portrait of Dora Maar, 1937
Pablo Picasso. Weeping Woman, 1937
Weeping Woman, 1937
Pablo Picasso. Fish d`Avril (rebus Drawing No. 8), 1937
Fish d`Avril (rebus Drawing No. 8), 1937
Pablo Picasso. Weeping Woman with handkerchief It, 1937
Weeping Woman with handkerchief It, 1937
Pablo Picasso. Minotaur and His Wife, 1937
Minotaur and His Wife, 1937
Pablo Picasso. Weeping Woman, 1937
Weeping Woman, 1937
Pablo Picasso. Guernica [study] II, 1937
Guernica [study] II, 1937
Pablo Picasso. Portrait of Vollard IV, 1937
Portrait of Vollard IV, 1937
Pablo Picasso. Portrait of Vollard II, 1937
Portrait of Vollard II, 1937
Pablo Picasso. Portrait of Vollard III, 1937
Portrait of Vollard III, 1937
Pablo Picasso. Weeping Woman I, 1937
Weeping Woman I, 1937
Pablo Picasso. Weeping Woman I (VI), 1937
Weeping Woman I (VI), 1937
Pablo Picasso. Guernica V [study], 1937
Guernica V [study], 1937
Pablo Picasso. Woman in an armchair, 1938
Woman in an armchair, 1938
Pablo Picasso. Man with lollipop, 1938
Man with lollipop, 1938
Pablo Picasso. Head of a Woman, 1938
Head of a Woman, 1938
Pablo Picasso. nusch Eluard, 1938
nusch Eluard, 1938
Pablo Picasso. Self-Portrait, 1938
Self-Portrait, 1938
Pablo Picasso. Two women l`ombrelle, 1938
Two women l`ombrelle, 1938
Pablo Picasso. Bust of woman with kerchief, 1939
Bust of woman with kerchief, 1939
Pablo Picasso. Portrait of Maya, 1939
Portrait of Maya, 1939
Pablo Picasso. Portrait of Dora Maar, 1939
Portrait of Dora Maar, 1939
Pablo Picasso. Young Girl Struck by Sadness, 1939
Young Girl Struck by Sadness, 1939
Pablo Picasso. Head, 1942
Head, 1942
Pablo Picasso. Portrait of Dora Maar, 1942
Portrait of Dora Maar, 1942
Pablo Picasso. Maya in her hair a cloth doll, 1943
Maya in her hair a cloth doll, 1943
Pablo Picasso. Head of a Woman, 1943
Head of a Woman, 1943
Pablo Picasso. Head of young boy, 1944
Head of young boy, 1944
Pablo Picasso. Portrait of a Woman (Françoise Gilot), 1944
Portrait of a Woman (Françoise Gilot), 1944
Pablo Picasso. Crane goat, bottle and candle, 1945
Crane goat, bottle and candle, 1945
Pablo Picasso. Head of a Woman (Françoise Gilot), 1945
Head of a Woman (Françoise Gilot), 1945
Pablo Picasso. Head of a Girl with big hair VI, 1945
Head of a Girl with big hair VI, 1945
Pablo Picasso. Head girl VI, 1945
Head girl VI, 1945
Pablo Picasso. Portrait of Paul Langevin, 1945
Portrait of Paul Langevin, 1945
Pablo Picasso. Head of a Woman (Françoise Gilot), 1945
Head of a Woman (Françoise Gilot), 1945
Pablo Picasso. The Bull. State I, 1945
The Bull. State I, 1945
Pablo Picasso. The Bull. State II, 1945
The Bull. State II, 1945
Pablo Picasso. The Bull. State III, 1945
The Bull. State III, 1945
Pablo Picasso. The Bull. State IV, 1945
The Bull. State IV, 1945

All artworks by years