The Charnel House (Le Charnier)
Oil painting on canvas (reproduction/print shown) • Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)
Style & Movement
Expressionism / Late Cubism / Social Realism
Medium & Technique
The original is oil and charcoal on canvas using a monochromatic palette with grisaille and scumbled impasto; however, the provided image shows a textural print reproduction.
Creation Period
circa 1944-1945
Dimensions & Format
Original: 199.8 x 250.1 cm; Landscape format.
Subject Description
A visceral depiction of a heap of slaughtered bodies beneath a table, commemorating victims of war and concentration camps. It employs a chaotic, interlocking composition of limbs and torsos, utilizing cold tones to evoke the stillness of death.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair. The provided item appears to be a framed paper reproduction with visible surface glares and minor warping along the top edge near the matting.
Estimated Market Value
The original is priceless/museum-held (est. over $100M); this reproduction has a value of $20 - $100.
Auction Estimate
$10 - $50 for this particular printed reproduction.
Provenance History
The original painting was gifted to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) by Walter P. Chrysler, Jr. in 1954; the current object is a commercial print likely for educational or decorative use.
Art Historical Significance
This is Picasso's most important anti-war statement following Guernica, specifically addressing the horrors of the Holocaust and WWII massacres through a stark, unfinished-looking aesthetic.
Notable Features
Features the distinct 'gray-scale' or grisaille palette typical of Picasso's somber war-time works; the image shown is a detail or cropped section of the larger complete composition.
Condition Issues
Surface glare, potential light-fading, and adhesive residue or paper lifting visible at the top border where it meets the matting.
Conservation Recommendations
Keep away from direct UV light to prevent further fading; if valuable sentimental property, consider archival UV-protected glass and acid-free mounting.