The Wrestlers (Les Lutteurs) from the series Four Lithographs (Quatre lithographies)

The Wrestlers (Les Lutteurs) from the series Four Lithographs (Quatre lithographies) is a significant print created by Pablo Picasso in 1921 and published in 1928. This lithograph captures the monumental quality of the Spanish artist’s output during his highly productive Neoclassical period, a phase marked by a deliberate return to classical forms and figure drawing following the fragmented intensity of Cubism.

Executed using the lithographic process, the print showcases the medium's capacity for producing subtle tonal modeling and robust, decisive linearity. The scene depicts two massive figures engaged in a wrestling hold, their poses and musculature rendered with simplified, powerful outlines reminiscent of Greco-Roman sculpture. This style reflects the post-WWI artistic movement known as rappel à l'ordre (return to order), where artists across Europe sought stability, volume, and classical proportion.

The composition emphasizes stability and volume, focusing on the human body as a structure of inherent power. Created in 1921 and formally released seven years later as part of a portfolio of prints, the work demonstrates Picasso’s mastery across multiple disciplines beyond painting. He frequently utilized printmaking during this decade to explore the solidity and weight of the human form, often depicting themes of athleticism and physical prowess.

As a master of multiple mediums, Picasso ensured that the quality of these prints was exceptionally high, allowing the public access to these powerful figure studies. Today, The Wrestlers (Les Lutteurs) is held in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), where it serves as a primary example of the artist’s complex and evolving aesthetic during the 1920s.