Pablo Picasso painted the portrait of a Parisian boy titled ‘Garçon a la Pipe’ (Boy with a Pipe) oil on canvas, (39.4 inches × 32.0 inches) in 1905 during his Rose period. The painting is considered a unique masterpiece depicting the adolescent beauty of the young working boy crowned with a garland of roses and holding a pipe in his left hand.

Picasso was living at the Beateau Lavoir, the artists’ residence in Monmartre and his models were local people who often made a living in the entertainment industry. However, little is known about this model. ‘Garçon a la Pipe’ shows early signs of the artist’s aim to move away from the literal depiction and head towards more abstract stylisation by using flat surfaces. The painting became the most expensive work of art sold at auction at the time when it was sold for $104 million at Sotheby’s in 2004. —M.I.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, March 29th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play