La Toilette

During the summer of 1906, Pablo Picasso and his French female companion Ferdinande Olivier traveled from France back to Spain, where they stayed in a remote village called Gósol, located in the Pyrenees. At the time, Picasso was engaged in what is now referred to as his Rose Period, consisting of his subjects being portrayed in vivid red, orange, and pink in addition to earthy tones. Olivier appears in many of his works from this era, including La Toilette; serving as the model. The figure on the left is nude, standing frontally and viewing herself in a mirror that is held by the figure next to her. The act of self-admiration is heavily contrasted and poignant, as it is juxtaposed by the timindness of the clothed woman to the right. This may be interpreted as the two sides to Picasso’s mistress: sensual and modest.
SKU: 3684
Creator: Pablo Picasso
Date: 1906
Original Medium: oil on canvas
Original Size: 68 x 48 x 4 in.
Location: Albright-Knox Art Gallery