In his studio at Avignon in the summer of 1914, Picasso explored a new path, contrasting, in a single work, a Cubist treatment of objects and figures with a simple, at times naive, naturalism. Although Picasso had been thinking about Cézanne episodically since he first saw his works at Ambroise Vollard's gallery in 1901, being in Provence—Cézanne country—triggered a new set of associations. In the cafés of Avignon, he saw men dressed identically to those in Cézanne's late paintings, and he made a number of works inspired by the cardplayers of the Master of Aix (see MMA 61.101.1). The subject conveniently provided a pretext for Picasso to juxtapose two figures in contrasting styles, as he does here in such an amusing manner.
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the artist, Paris and elsewhere (1914–d. 1973; his estate, 1973–78; Succession Picasso inv. 01787); his granddaughter, Marina Picasso (1978–84; on consignment to Jan Krugier, Geneva, from 1980, and through Krugier to Paul Rosenberg & Co., New York, 1983–84; sold by Rosenberg in January 1984 to MMA)
Munich. Haus der Kunst. "Pablo Picasso: Eine Ausstellung zum hundertsten Geburtstag. Werke aus der Sammlung Marina Picasso," February 14–April 20, 1981, no. 98.
Venice. Centro di Cultura di Palazzo Grassi. "Picasso: Opere dal 1895 al 1971 dalla collezione Marina Picasso," May 3–July 26, 1981, no. 112.
Cologne. Josef-Haubrich Kunsthalle. "Pablo Picasso: Eine Ausstellung zum hundertsten Geburtstag. Werke aus der Sammlung Marina Picasso," August 11–October 11, 1981, no. 98.
Frankfurt. Städtische Galerie. "Pablo Picasso: Eine Ausstellung zum hundertsten Geburtstag. Werke aus der Sammlung Marina Picasso," October 22, 1981–January 10, 1982, no. 98.
Kunsthaus Zürich. "Pablo Picasso: Eine Ausstellung zum hundertsten Geburtstag. Werke aus der Sammlung Marina Picasso," January 29–March 28, 1982, no. 98.
Tokyo. National Museum of Modern Art. "Picasso: Masterpieces from Marina Picasso Collection and from Museums in the U.S.A. and U.S.S.R.," April 2–May 29, 1983, no. 82.
Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art. "Picasso: Masterpieces from Marina Picasso Collection and from Museums in the U.S.A. and U.S.S.R.," June 10–July 24, 1983, no. 82.
New York. Paul Rosenberg & Co. "Picasso: The Primacy of Design, Major Drawings in Black and Colored Media from the Marina Picasso Collection, in Association with Galerie Jan Krugier, Geneva," October 26–December 3, 1983, no. 24.
New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Exceptional Acquisitions, 1983–1984," May 8–September 2, 1984, no catalogue.
Canberra. Australian National Gallery. "20th Century Masters from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York," March 1–April 27, 1986, unnnumbered cat. (p. 19).
Brisbane. Queensland Art Gallery. "20th Century Masters from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York," May 7–July 1, 1986, unnnumbered cat.
New York. Museum of Modern Art. "Picasso and Braque: Pioneering Cubism," September 24, 1989–January 16, 1990, unnumbered cat. (p. 330).
New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Drawings: Additions to the Collection," May 23–September 29, 1991, no catalogue.
New York. PaceWildenstein. "Picasso and Drawing," April 28–June 2, 1995, unnumbered cat. (pl. 20).
Tokyo. Bunkamura Museum of Art. "Pikaso ten: Kaikan 10-shunen kinen/Pablo Picasso: 10th Anniversary," July 4–September 6, 1998, no. 44.
Nagoya City Art Museum. "Pikaso ten: Kaikan 10-shunen kinen/Pablo Picasso: 10th Anniversary," September 12–November 29, 1998, no. 44.
New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Picasso in The Metropolitan Museum of Art," April 27–August 1, 2010, no. 60.
Waldemar George. Picasso, dessins. Paris, 1926, p. 7, pl. 5.
William S. Lieberman in "Twentieth Century Art." The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Notable Acquisitions, 1983–1984. New York, 1984, p. 106, ill.
Josep Palau i Fabre. Picasso: Cubism, 1907–1917. New York, 1990, pp. 410, 519, no. 1221, ill.
Gary Tinterow inPicasso in The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Ed. Gary Tinterow and Susan Alyson Stein. Exh. cat., The Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, 2010, pp. 170–71, no. 60, ill. (color).
Rachel Mustalish inPicasso in The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Ed. Gary Tinterow and Susan Alyson Stein. Exh. cat., The Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, 2010, p. 171.
Pablo Picasso (Spanish, Malaga 1881–1973 Mougins, France)
1921
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