The motif of one figure watching another figure sleeping recurs in Picasso's art throughout his career. Variations include scenes with two women, a man and a woman, and a mythical creature with a woman. The female figures were often inspired by the women in his life at the time. One explanation for the persistence of this theme is the fact that Picasso worked at night and had ample opportunity to observe his lovers sleeping.

Gallery label from

Picasso: Variations and Themes, March 28–September 30, 2010.

Medium Lithograph
Dimensions composition: 12 5/8 x 16 15/16" (32 x 43 cm); sheet: 13 1/16 x 17 1/2" (33.2 x 44.4 cm)
Publisher Galerie Louise Leiris, Paris
Printer Mourlot, Paris
Edition 50
Credit Acquired through the Lillie P. Bliss Bequest (by exchange)
Object number 263.1947
Department Drawings and Prints

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Pablo Picasso

Pablo Picasso

Spanish, 1881–1973 1251 works online

With these words, Picasso shed light on two central principles of his artistic production over nearly 80 years: his openness to a diverse range of styles, subject matters, and mediums, and his resistance to the notion that change in art necessarily corresponds to improvement or progress.

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