The Acrobats (Les saltimbanques)

1905, published 1913

Pablo Picasso

Associated Names
Pablo Picasso

Artist, Spanish, 1881 - 1973

Ambroise Vollard

Publisher, French, 1866 - 1939

Louis Fort

Printer, French, active first half 20th century

This is a drawing of various figures in a simplistic, linear style. The image depicts several human-like forms engaged in different activities, including one holding an infant, another seated, and one balanced on a sphere. The drawing has minimalistic detailing, using fine, light lines to convey the figures' outline and their positions in what appears to be an outdoor setting. There are also additional elements like a horse and a tree drawn in the background, suggesting a natural environment.
This object’s media is not available for download. Contact us about image usage.
Not on view See artworks now on view

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    drypoint on wove Van Gelder paper

  • Credit Line

    The John U. and Evelyn S. Nef Collection

  • Dimensions

    sheet: 50.2 x 58.2 cm (19 3/4 x 22 15/16 in.)
    plate: 29 x 32.7 cm (11 7/16 x 12 7/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2011.60.54

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Geiser/Baer, no. 9, State ii/ii (b2)

  • Copyright

    © 2012 Estate of Pablo Picasso/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Evelyn Nef, Washington, D.C.; bequest to NGA, 2010.

Associated Names

Bibliography

1968

  • Bloch, Georges. Pablo Picasso; catalogue de l'oeuvre grave et lithographie 1904-1967. Bern: Kornfeld und Klipstein, 1968, no. 7.

1990

  • Geiser, Bernhard and Brigette Baer. Picasso peintre-graveur. 2 vols. Berne: Éditions Kornfeld, 1990 (vol. 1) and 1992 (vol. 2), no. 9. See Baer 1986-1996 for volumes 1 and 2.

Inscriptions

in plate, lower right: Picasso / 1905

Watermarks

VAN GELDER ZONEN

Wikidata ID

Q75423606

You may be interested in

Loading Results