Artwork Page for The Frugal Meal

Details / Information for The Frugal Meal

Series Title: The Saltimbanques

The Frugal Meal

September 1904, printed 1913

Pablo Picasso

(Spanish, 1881–1973)
printer

Louis Fort

(French, active 1800s–1900s)
publisher

Ambroise Vollard

(French, 1867–1939)
Culture
Spain, 20th century
Medium
etching
Measurements
Image: 45.5 x 37 cm (17 15/16 x 14 9/16 in.); Plate: 46.3 x 37.6 cm (18 1/4 x 14 13/16 in.); Sheet: 63 x 49.8 cm (24 13/16 x 19 5/8 in.)
Credit Line
Dudley P. Allen Fund 1929.888
Catalogue raisonné
Bloch 1; Palau i Fabre 994; Geiser/Baer I.18.2
State
IIb/II (Geiser)
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
Print
?

Did You Know?

To create this print, Pablo Picasso recycled a zinc plate previously used by a friend.

Description

In this early print, Pablo Picasso depicted a couple—possibly two performers—sitting before a meager meal. Although the woman gazes forward directly, her male companion's unfocused stare suggests his blindness. This subject was one that Picasso explored during his Blue Period (1901–4), a stage of his career when he used a predominantly cool palette to depict figures marginalized by society.
A vertically oriented print in black ink depicts two people with light skin tones and elongated bodies leaning their elbows on a table spread with a tablecloth. The person on the right rests their chin on the back of their hand and looks down. The person on the left drapes one arm over the other's shoulder, looking to their right. On the creased tablecloth sit a bottle, two glasses, and bread next to an empty plate.

The Frugal Meal

September 1904, printed 1913

Pablo Picasso, Louis Fort, Ambroise Vollard

(Spanish, 1881–1973), (French, active 1800s–1900s), (French, 1867–1939)
Spain, 20th century

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