The artwork “First Communion” was created by the artist Pablo Picasso in the year 1896. It is an oil on canvas painting that measures 166 by 118 centimeters and exemplifies the Realism art movement. This genre painting is part of the collection at the Museu Picasso in Barcelona, Spain. The artwork captures the solemnity and significance of the ritual of First Communion within the Christian faith.
In the artwork, a young girl dressed in a traditional white communion dress and veil kneels at the altar, her hands clasped in prayer, holding a prayer book or Bible. Her attire is remarkably detailed, with the delicate fabric of her veil cascading down and the white gown conveying a sense of purity and innocence. To her left, a boy serves as an altar boy, dressed in cassock and surplus with a red sash, attending to the elements on the altar. The background features an older gentleman with a beard and a solemn expression, who is most likely representing the girl’s father, and another figure that could be an attendant or relative.
The setting of the painting is a dimly lit church interior, with key religious symbols, such as a hanging sanctuary lamp and a crucifix on the wall, enhancing the devotional atmosphere. There are lit candles on the altar, and the naturalistic rendering of the folds of the tablecloth, the floral arrangement, and the detailed carpet add to the authenticity of the scene. The careful use of light and shadow creates a dramatic effect that draws focus to the girl and the significance of the sacrament she is partaking in. The sober palette and realistic rendering are typical of the Realism genre to which this painting belongs.
