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Dépendance de l'adieu (Relying on Goodbye)

A work made of illustrated book issued unbound, in bright orange paper covers, with one line block reproduction after a pen and ink drawing.

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  • A work made of illustrated book issued unbound, in bright orange paper covers, with one line block reproduction after a pen and ink drawing.

Date:

1936

Artist:

Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881-1973)
Written by René Char (French, 1907-1988)

About this artwork

The Minotaur, the half-man, half-bull monster in Greek mythology, frequently appeared in Pablo Picasso’s works. For Picasso, the figure was not only a nod to Spain’s bullfighting tradition but also an alter ego. Some of Picasso’s Minotaurs are depicted as virile and strong—evoking his own reputation as a womanizer—while others are shown in vulnerable, emotional scenes, hinting at insecurities masked by muscle. To accompany this poem by René Char, who associated with the French Surrealists in the 1930s, Picasso provided a line drawing of a Minotaur embracing (or perhaps ravishing) a woman. While the woman’s head lolls back in the Minotaur’s arms, he seems to hail the viewer, with his hand raised and his eyes facing forward.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Ryerson and Burnham Libraries Special Collections

Artist

René Char (Author)

Title

Dépendance de l'adieu (Relying on Goodbye)

Place

Paris (Object made in:)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

1936

Medium

Illustrated book issued unbound, in bright orange paper covers, with one line block reproduction after a pen and ink drawing

Edition

Number 5 of an edition of 70

Dimensions

H.: 26 cm (10 1/4 in.)

Credit Line

Mary Reynolds Collection Fund, Ryerson & Burnham Libraries

Reference Number

2019.947

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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