Provenance
Pierre Matisse Gallery, New York, by December 1935. Anonymous private collector, from 1936 or 1937 [letter from collector in curatorial file]; given to the Art Institute, 1991.
Accession Number
117694
Medium
Pen and brush and black inks, graphite, and colored crayons, with smudging, over incising, on cream laid paper
Dimensions
34.3 × 51.5 cm (13 9/16 × 20 5/16 in.)
Classification
pen and ink drawings
Credit Line
Anonymous gift
Background & Context
Background Story
Pablo Picasso's Minotaur and Wounded Horse (April 17, 1935) is a pen and brush and black inks drawing with graphite and colored crayons on cream laid paper. The minotaur, a mythical half-man, half-bull creature, was a recurring figure in Picasso's art, often representing the artist himself or the darker forces of human nature. Here the minotaur confronts a wounded horse, a scene charged with drama and symbolism.
Cultural Impact
The minotaur was a central figure in Picasso's personal mythology, representing the artist's complex psychology.
Why It Matters
This drawing of a minotaur and wounded horse captures the mythical drama that Picasso explored throughout his career.
