
Aquatint
13 works

Le Repas Frugal, 1904
Etching and scraper, on laid Arches paper
24 1/2 x 18 1/2 in 62.2 x 47 cm
Edition
Edition of 250
The etching portrays two gaunt figures seated at a bare table, their elongated limbs and hollow expressions capturing the desolation of poverty. A bottle and meager scraps suggest their humble meal, while the couple's bodies angle toward each other in quiet intimacy despite their evident hardship. Picasso employs dense cross-hatching and strategic use of the scraper to create dramatic contrasts between light and shadow, emphasizing the angular faces and skeletal frames of his subjects. The fine lines and tonal depth achieved on the Arches paper demonstrate remarkable technical mastery for an artist in his early twenties. Created during Picasso's Blue Period, this work represents one of his most significant early prints and remains among the most sought-after etchings of the twentieth century. The emotional intensity and social commentary reveal the artist's developing genius before his revolutionary Cubist innovations. As part of the celebrated Saltimbanques series, this etching occupies a pivotal position in Picasso's graphic oeuvre and continues to command exceptional interest among discerning collectors. Available for purchase — enquire for price and availability.
Price on Application
Auction History

Le repas frugal (The Frugal Meal), plate 1 from La Suite des Saltimbanques (Bl. 1, Ba. 2) · Pablo Picasso · Phillips · 2026-04 · $0

Le repas frugal · Pablo Picasso · Christie's · 2026-03 · $273,893

Le repas frugal (The Frugal Meal), from La Suite des Saltimbanques (Bl. 1, Ba. 2) · Pablo Picasso · Phillips · 2026-01 · $224,894

Le repas frugal · Pablo Picasso · Christie's · 2025-10 · $0

Le repas frugal, from: La Suite des Saltimbanques · Pablo Picasso · Christie's · 2025-09 · $183,773

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