Minotaur with Chalice in Hand and Young Woman (Minotaure, une coupe a la main, et jeune femme) 1933

This etching by Picasso features a minotaur with a chalice in hand and a young woman. The image has been brought into being through a process of scratching away at a copper plate, a slow act of trial, error, and intuition. I can imagine Picasso hunched over the plate, thinking through the lines and shapes, trying to bring these two figures together into one space. What might he have been thinking when he made this? Here the line is thin, precise, and delicate, but look how he renders the texture of the minotaur's fur – so rough and energetic, in contrast to the woman's smooth skin. Then there's her arm, the way it extends out, holding the chalice in an offering. Maybe it’s the promise of something good… Picasso was always in conversation with other artists, and this piece evokes the work of other painters throughout history who have depicted mythological figures. This is Picasso’s take, a deeply personal and embodied expression that speaks to the power of myth and the complexity of human relationships.