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Minotauromachia

A work made of etching, with scraping and engraving, on copper in black on ivory laid paper.
© 2018 Estate of Pablo Picasso / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

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  • A work made of etching, with scraping and engraving, on copper in black on ivory laid paper.

Date:

March 23–May 3, 1935

Artist:

Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881-1973)
printed by Roger Lacourière (French, 1892-1966)

About this artwork

This etching and engraving titled Minotauromachia, or “Battle of the Minotaur,” depicts a complex scene: The titular Minotaur enters at right, while a bearded man climbs a ladder to the left. In between them, a girl holds a candle aloft in an attempt to blind the massive Minotaur. A wounded female bullfighter lies across a horse at center, the animal’s insides empty on the ground. Two women accompanied by doves look down onto the encounter from a window. This enigmatic scene is among Picasso’s most celebrated etchings, sensitively inked and printed by Roger Lacourière.

Status

On View, Gallery 126

Department

Prints and Drawings

Artist

Pablo Picasso

Title

Minotauromachia

Place

Spain (Artist's nationality:)

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.

Made 1935

Medium

Etching, with scraping and engraving, on copper in black on ivory laid paper

Dimensions

Plate: 49.5 × 69.1 cm (19 1/2 × 27 1/4 in.); Sheet: 57.4 × 77.1 cm (22 5/8 × 30 3/8 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Helen Pauling Donnelley

Reference Number

1947.160

Copyright

© 2018 Estate of Pablo Picasso / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

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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