The Child

Pablo Picasso 1881 - 1973

Summary

In this print it is the manner in which the child is portrayed that is striking. Using thick, bold lines in either bright blue, red, yellow or black a caricature of a child is given. Positioned at the centre of the composition the child is shown facing forwards, grinning and looking slightly to the right. The child’s facial features are outlined in blue with the pupils and nostrils picked out in black, and the ears outlined in red. As the child’s shoulders are visible it is apparent that the child is wearing a red striped top with a large collar and has a yellow crown on its head that is decorated with red and blue spots. Framing the caricature is a zig-zag border in yellow with alternating red and blue spots apart from the top edge which is just a blue zig-zag border. The artist’s signature appears twice in the composition; just to the left of the child’s shoulder and in the bottom right hand corner.