Woman and Child by the Sea (Dona i infant vora el mar / Mujer y niño junto al mar)
Painting on panel • Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881–1973)
Style & Movement
Blue Period
Medium & Technique
Oil on wood, executed with a thin brush and wash-like application typical of early Picasso experimentation.
Creation Period
January–October 1902
Dimensions & Format
Small vertical format, approximately 15 x 6 cm (irregular panel); displayed in a portrait orientation.
Subject Description
The painting depicts a mother and small child standing on a beach. The composition follows the somber, melancholic themes of Picasso's Blue Period, utilizing a simplified palette and elongated figures to convey a sense of solitude or social marginalization.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good/Very Good. The wood support shows signs of age with slightly irregular edges, and the paint layer appears stable with minor surface wear consistent with age.
Estimated Market Value
$1,500,000 – $2,500,000 (Estimated for a rare, early authenticated Blue Period oil on wood by Picasso).
Auction Estimate
$1,200,000 – $2,000,000
Provenance History
Gift of Pablo Picasso to the Museu Picasso, Barcelona, in 1970 (MPB 110.037).
Art Historical Significance
A significant work from the transition into Picasso's Blue Period in Barcelona. It exemplifies his early focus on themes of poverty and motherhood, influenced by his time in Paris and Barcelona during a period of personal mourning and social observation.
Notable Features
Executed on a narrow wood scrap, reflecting Picasso's tendency to work on found materials during his early career; includes official museum labeling from the Museu Picasso, Barcelona.
Condition Issues
Natural aging of the wood panel and slight yellowing of the protective varnish or binding medium; irregular edges inherent to the found-object nature of the support.
Conservation Recommendations
Maintain stable environmental humidity to prevent wood warping; provide UV-filtered lighting; periodic check for micro-cracking in the oil layer.