National Gallery of Art - Picasso's The Tragedy

Left: Composite x-radiograph of The Tragedy, showing 1901 composition beneath the final painting

Above Left: Pablo Picasso, Bullfighting Scene (The Victims), 1901, oil on cardboard mounted on canvas, private collection
Above Right: Pablo Picasso, La Corrida, 1901, oil on canvas, private collection

Bullfight Images, 1901
To better understand the composition that is beneath the visible one, an x-radiograph was taken of the painting. When viewed horizontally, the x-radiograph shows an elongated, tortured horse at the lower right-hand corner. In addition to the horse, one can identify the outline of the bullring and the arches of the stadium.

The image revealed by the x-radiograph is clearly related to Picasso’s 1901 bullfight scenes, such as those shown here. Along with the emergence of a bright color palette beneath the surface blue of The Tragedy, there is ample evidence to suggest that he painted a large bullfight composition on this wooden support.