Costume design for the ballet Le Tricorne

Costume design for the ballet Le Tricorne by Pablo Picasso, created in 1920, captures the vigor and flair of one of the artist's key collaborations with Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes. This piece belongs to an Illustrated Book classification, originating from a definitive portfolio containing thirty-two collotypes (thirty-one enhanced with pochoir). Picasso utilized the combined process of collotype, a high-quality photomechanical print process, and pochoir, a sophisticated stenciling technique, to reproduce his original sketches for the stage production with rich color and textural fidelity.

The work reflects a pivotal moment for Picasso in the 1920s, demonstrating his commitment to classically inspired representation following his earlier Cubist explorations. Le Tricorne (The Three-Cornered Hat), based on the novel by Pedro Antonio de Alarcón, drew heavily on traditional Spanish dress and folkloric themes, linking the subject matter directly to the artist’s cultural heritage. This design reflects the dynamism required for stage performance, showcasing the melding of Spanish tradition with modern artistic principles, which defined Picasso’s involvement in theatrical design during this period.

As fine art prints, the designs within the portfolio dedicated to Le Tricorne offer enduring insight into both theatrical history and Picasso’s diverse practice. The precision afforded by the collotype and pochoir processes preserves the hand-drawn quality of the original sketches, making these reproductions valuable artifacts. This work is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Due to its age, the 1920 portfolio is frequently referenced by institutions; high-quality prints from this series are often digitized, placing them within the purview of widely accessible cultural heritage and the public domain.