Costume design for the ballet Le Tricorne

The Costume design for the ballet Le Tricorne by Pablo Picasso, created in 1920, is a highly significant example of the Spanish artist's engagement with early 20th-century theatrical production. This work is part of a dedicated portfolio classified as an Illustrated Book, comprising thirty-two collotype prints, thirty-one of which were meticulously enhanced using the vibrant pochoir (stencil coloring) technique. Collotype is a demanding photomechanical printing process known for producing continuous tones and fine detail, while pochoir added the hand-finished color crucial for illustrating the intended vividness of the stage designs.

The creation of these prints followed the successful 1919 premiere of the ballet, choreographed by Léonide Massine for Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes. The ballet utilized music by Manuel de Falla, and its subject matter was deeply rooted in traditional Spanish culture, perfectly aligning with Picasso’s heritage. The designs for Le Tricorne captured the essence of traditional Iberian dress and character types, translating the bold lines and clear, saturated colors needed for dramatic effect on stage. The period around 1920 marked a phase of artistic transition for Picasso, who was moving away from the strict fragmentation of Cubism toward a clearer, more figurative style often referred to as Neoclassicism.

This piece illustrates the dynamism and visual impact required for effective stage costumes, emphasizing silhouettes and broad color fields easily visible to a theater audience. Picasso's contribution to stage design, documented through these high-quality collotype and pochoir prints, remains a celebrated segment of the modernist movement. As a vital historical record of theatrical collaboration, the work currently resides in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), recognizing its importance as both a significant printmaking endeavor and a fundamental document of 1920s performance history.