The artwork “Study to ‘Girls from Avignon'” is a notable piece by the esteemed artist Pablo Picasso, completed in the year 1906. Created using pencil on paper, this work is a preliminary study related to Picasso’s more famous painting “Les Demoiselles d’Avignon.” As a part of the Cubism art movement, the artwork presents a significant contribution to the genre of nude painting (nu). It measures modestly at 13 by 20 centimeters.
The artwork depicts a group of female figures, portrayed in a sketchy and fluid style that is characteristic of Picasso’s preparatory works. Each figure is shown with a distinctive posture, suggesting various states of movement or repose. The linear quality of the drawing provides a sense of structure within which the fragmented forms of Cubism can be discerned. Despite the absence of color and the simplicity of the medium, Picasso’s skill in conveying form and depth is apparent in this study. The depicted figures are indicative of the artist’s exploration of the human form, which would later culminate in the revolutionary style of his Cubist period.
