Musketeer with pipe 1968

Here, Picasso paints a musketeer, a figure emerging from the 17th century, adorned with the ruff collar, a distinct symbol of status and elegance of that era. Note how the ruff, originally a symbol of aristocratic pride, becomes, in Picasso's hands, a playful exploration of form. The motif reminds me of the elaborate collars seen in Renaissance portraiture. Yet, unlike the stiff formality of those portraits, Picasso infuses a raw, almost childlike freedom into this image. The ruff has been passed down through history, shifting in meaning and social context. What was once a symbol of power and status, of a noble bearing, becomes an element of costume, theatrically revived. The bold colours and flattened perspective may also hint at a deeper emotional resonance, as Picasso seems to delve into the collective memory of historical archetypes, reinterpreting them through the lens of modern sensibility. Observe the evolution of symbols, how they resurface and evolve through the ages.