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Boy with a pipe by Pablo Picasso

Boy with a pipe by Pablo Picasso

The picture was written after a large series of paintings dedicated to harlequins and circus performers.

In the portrait we see a young teenager with a pipe in his left hand and a wreath of volumetric roses. This young man was called Louis. Picasso, who was 24 years old, met him at a time when his financial situation left much to be desired – a modest boy liked to drop into the studio in Montmartre for the future great artist and observe the process of creating his works.

It was a difficult and strange period in the life of Picasso: on the one hand, he is a regular at trendy cafes where representatives of bohemia and art reformers discuss, on the other hand, his life is spent in a dismal hostel among wandering artists, “light” girls and other representatives of the lower classes.

We do not know who this young man is an apprentice, an artist, or just a street boy, the story has not retained any evidence. The hero of the portrait looks very melancholic and lyrical, with a little admixture of sadness and calm. Bright colors of the background, dark hair and brightly contoured facial features only emphasize the young man’s pallor.

For a very long time, the portrait of the young friend Picasso was unfinished. The master could not understand what is missing for harmonious completion, and one fine day, driven by some kind of impulse-inspiration, the artist complements the background with bright colors and “puts” a rose crown on his head. Satisfied with his “finds”, Picasso quickly appends a portrait.

The color of the picture focuses on pink, gray, gold and blue tones. The picture is written in a realistic manner, in which, however, the special unique style of the master is read. The masterpiece is one of the most significant “pink period” of Pablo Picasso.

Interesting is the history of the canvas – the picture did not fall into the ranks of museum exhibits, and all the time was in a private collection. For a very long time, the famous work was the main gem of the collection of the famous American collector and magnate J. Whitney.

In 2004, around the picture played serious passions. At the famous auction “Sotheby’s” the starting price for the masterpiece was a record high – 70 million dollars. However, the main sensation was ahead – the picture left the auction for 104, 168 million dollars. This record held over 6 years.

As before, the picture today is in a private collection.

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