Set design for the ballet Le Tricorne

Set design for the ballet Le Tricorne is a significant graphic work created by Spanish artist Pablo Picasso in 1920. This piece serves as documentation for the acclaimed ballet Le Tricorne (The Three-Cornered Hat), which premiered in London in 1919 with choreography by Léonide Massine and music by Manuel de Falla. Picasso, who was deeply involved in stagecraft during this period, was responsible for the sets, costumes, and the monumental front curtain. The work represents a pivotal moment in the artist's career, showcasing his transition toward neoclassical linearity and simplified figuration following his earlier Cubist experiments.

The work is categorized as an Illustrated Book, specifically a plate pulled from a limited portfolio of thirty-two collotypes published shortly after the ballet’s premiere. The technical execution utilizes both collotype, a high-quality photomechanical reproduction process, and pochoir. Pochoir involves hand-stenciling pigments, which allowed for vibrant, applied coloration and enhanced the theatrical design's depth and visual impact. This complex printing technique ensured accurate reproduction of Picasso’s original drawings for the theatrical production. The portfolio, released in 1920, made these sought-after prints accessible to collectors and scholars interested in early 20th-century European stage design.

The ballet Le Tricorne was a landmark artistic achievement, drawing heavily on Spanish folk culture and music while being realized through the cutting-edge framework of Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes. Picasso’s approach to the set designs favored simplified, monumental forms and bold outlines, which effectively captured the energy and spirit of the Spanish themes crucial to the narrative. The combination of modern aesthetics and traditional subject matter defines this era of Picasso’s output. Today, this example of early twentieth-century theatrical documentation resides in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), where it remains an important reference for the artist’s involvement in collaborative arts.