Man in a Beret (Hombre con boina)
Painting on canvas • Pablo Picasso
Style & Movement
Realism / Spanish Academic Tradition
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas; academic realism techniques including chiaroscuro, wet-on-wet brushwork in the beard, and glazed skin tones
Creation Period
January–March 1895
Dimensions & Format
50.5 x 36 cm; Portrait orientation
Subject Description
A bust-length portrait of an elderly bearded man wearing a traditional brown beret and a dark coat. The composition uses a dark, atmospheric background to emphasize the rugged, textured features of the sitter's face and the silvery-grey of his large beard, reflecting the influence of Velázquez and Ribera.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Very Good; the work appears stable with healthy impasto and well-preserved color saturation, currently professionally maintained in a museum environment.
Estimated Market Value
$5,000,000 - $8,000,000 (Based on the rarity of juvenilia and the extreme historical importance of the artist, though institutional ownership makes market appearance unlikely).
Auction Estimate
$4,000,000 - $6,000,000
Provenance History
Formerly in the artist's personal collection; donated by Pablo Picasso to the Museu Picasso, Barcelona, in 1970.
Art Historical Significance
An exceptional example of Picasso's technical virtuosity at the age of 13. This work demonstrates his mastery of traditional Spanish realism before his transition into Modernism and remains a cornerstone of the Museu Picasso collection in Barcelona.
Notable Features
Execution at age 13; sophisticated use of light to model the bridge of the nose and the volume of the beret; visible brushwork in the beard that prefigures his later expressive freedom.
Condition Issues
Minor surface craquelure consistent with 19th-century oil paintings; some slight darkening of the varnish layer; no significant losses or structural damage visible.
Conservation Recommendations
Maintain stable humidity (45-55%) and temperature (20-22°C); keep under low UV-filtered light. Periodic professional surface cleaning to remove dust recommended.