The Fall of Icarus 1958

Pablo Picasso’s “The Fall of Icarus” is a deeply emotive exploration rendered with coarse brushstrokes in a limited palette of earthy browns and fiery oranges. The composition centres on a dark, winged figure plunging downwards, set against a turbulent backdrop that merges sky and sea. The painting eschews classical precision for an expressionistic style, typical of Picasso’s evolving approach to form and narrative. Here, the myth of Icarus becomes a vehicle for exploring themes of ambition, failure, and the human condition. The impasto technique, with its thick application of paint, emphasizes the raw physicality of the scene. Picasso's use of colour and form to convey meaning transcends literal representation. This work challenges fixed notions of heroism, inviting us to reflect on the limits of human aspiration and the inevitability of gravity.