The Poor (Les Pauvres) from the Saltimbanques series

The Poor (Les Pauvres) from the Saltimbanques series by Pablo Picasso is a seminal etching created in 1905, although it was formally published in 1913. This poignant Spanish print exemplifies the artist’s critical transitional phase, capturing the lingering somber introspection of the Blue Period while hinting at the slightly warmer palette and more empathetic rendering associated with the emerging Rose Period.

The medium, etching, allowed Picasso to render the forms with stark linearity, emphasizing the poverty and quiet desperation of the two figures: a gaunt woman and a small child huddled beside her. The Saltimbanques series consistently explored the lives of marginalized itinerant performers, acrobats, and circus people, portraying them not as entertainment, but as dignified yet fragile subjects struggling at the periphery of society. The use of fine lines and varied hatching in this work effectively models the drapery and reinforces the sense of cold isolation surrounding the figures.

As an early masterpiece within Picasso’s graphic output, this piece demonstrates the young artist's growing versatility in techniques beyond painting and drawing. The formal constraints of the print medium encouraged a disciplined approach to composition and form, skills that would prove crucial for his later revolutionary experiments in Cubism. The 1905 date marks a significant moment when the artist focused his attention on themes of human frailty and the universal experience of hardship.

This important graphic work, classified as a print, remains a cornerstone of the artist’s early career and is housed in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York. Its continued significance lies in its powerful emotional resonance and its position charting the crucial stylistic shifts in Picasso’s development during the early 20th century.