The Bull (Le taureau)
1945
Image not available — this artwork is under copyright
View on museum website →Medium
lithograph on Arches paper [fourth state]
Dimensions
sheet: 32.4 x 44.4 cm (12 3/4 x 17 1/2 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund
Accession Number
1982.12.4
Art Historical Context
Created in 1945 at the close of World War II, Pablo Picasso's *The Bull (Le taureau)* captures the artist's profound engagement with form and symbolism during a time of global upheaval. Produced as a lithograph on fine Arches paper—this being the fourth state in a renowned series of progressive proofs—Picasso distilled the iconic bull, a recurring motif in his work symbolizing Spanish vitality, power, and primal energy. Working at the Mourlot lithography studio in Paris, he masterfully transitioned from detailed realism to abstracted essence, showcasing his Cubist roots while pushing toward mi...
About the Artist
Pablo Picasso
Pablo Picasso (1881–1973), born Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso in Málaga, Spain, was the son of José Ruiz Blasco, a painter and art professor who served as his first teacher. From age seven, Picasso trained under his father in figure drawing and oil painting, mastering naturalistic techniques by copying mas...