6. Nude Woman in Front of a Statue

Nude Woman in Front of a Statue captures the depth and complexity of Picasso’s Suite Vollard. The juxtaposition of the two nude women challenges the viewer and reveals the paired—and at times, opposing—themes of the entire series: the artist and the model, love and art, lightness and darkness. Muse and sculpture are presented as an homage to the central theme of the project—the power of creation in art and love.

The figure on the left stands in contrapposto and evokes ancient sculpture. Her body is graceful, but sculptural and strong. Crosshatching darkens her face while highlighting her body. Across from her, another nude woman sits, her back curved and body leaning toward the center of the composition. Lucid lines define her hair, facial features, and chest. These delicate strokes contrast with the dramatic crosshatching on the other figure. The shading on the chest of the right-hand figure disturbs the softness of the outline and creates a dark area. This visual contrast is striking and intriguing: why are the two women presented in this way? Who are they and why is there such a distinction? These questions are invited by this early print, and continue to remain unanswered as Picasso’s creates more conflicting yet complementary works over the next six years. This print is a starting point or thematic map for the Suite Vollard and helps navigate the interpretation of the other works. Its complexity defies any precise definition, but can be understood through its relationship with the other prints in the Suite, and through the life and character of the artist, his relationship with his mistress, Marie-Thérèse, and his obsession with neoclassicism.

Clara Nuckols ’18