At the Circus (Au Cirque) from the Saltimbanques series

At the Circus (Au Cirque) from the Saltimbanques series by Pablo Picasso is a foundational piece in the artist’s early graphic output, executed around 1905–06. This important Spanish masterwork utilizes the demanding technique of drypoint, a printmaking method where the image is incised directly into the copper plate with a sharp point. This process raises a characteristic burr that holds ink, resulting in soft, velvety lines around the drawing. This particular print belongs to a pivotal suite that revolved around the transient lives of circus people and acrobats, subject matter central to Picasso’s transitional Rose Period.

While the plate was executed early in the 1905–06 period, the definitive edition of these highly influential drypoint prints was formally published in 1913. The composition captures the melancholy often associated with the Saltimbanques, presenting figures in a state of quiet repose rather than spectacle. Picasso focuses on the introspective moments backstage, lending a human vulnerability to the traditionally theatrical subject matter. The lines of the drypoint lend themselves to the spontaneous, sketched quality, highlighting the angular features and attenuated forms characteristic of the artist’s draftsmanship at the time.

This piece demonstrates Picasso’s early commitment to printmaking, a medium he would continue to explore extensively throughout his career. The spontaneity and immediacy of the drypoint technique allowed the artist to capture character studies with great sensitivity. Though specific works from the early 20th century, like these rare prints, often have complex rights histories, the historical significance of the At the Circus (Au Cirque) ensures its continued study. This significant work of modernism is held in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).