Bath (Le Bain) from the Saltimbanques series

Bath (Le Bain) from the Saltimbanques series by Pablo Picasso is a pivotal drypoint print executed in 1905 and formally published in 1913. This graphic work belongs to the critical Saltimbanques series, a body of work marking the artist’s transition from the somber tones of the Blue Period into the warmer palette and melancholic classicism of the ensuing Rose Period. The subject reflects Picasso’s prevailing fascination with the marginalized yet romanticized figures of the traveling circus.

As a drypoint, the technique involves scoring a sharp needle directly into a copper plate, raising a burr of metal that captures the ink during printing. This method produces the rich, velvety quality of line visible in this piece, lending a softness distinct from traditional etching. Picasso utilizes this technique to depict two nude figures in a quiet, introspective moment. The composition avoids theatricality, focusing instead on the subtle human interaction and vulnerability of the figures, a recurring thematic element throughout the Saltimbanques works. The stylistic shift evident in this 1905 piece demonstrates the young Spanish artist's move toward exploring form and volume, anticipating the formal innovations that would soon follow.

The historical context of the print is complex; though the drawing was done in 1905, the plate was often pulled in later editions, notably the large publication set released in 1913. These early prints are highly significant, chronicling Picasso's profound engagement with graphic media before his revolutionary Cubist phase. Bath (Le Bain) is held in the renowned collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). As a foundational work of early Modernism, the image demonstrates why high-quality prints from this specific period are frequently studied, remaining crucial reference points for understanding the development of 20th-century art.