Pigeon with Gray Background (Pigeon au fond gris) 1947

This 1947 lithograph by Pablo Picasso, titled "Pigeon with Gray Background," depicts a stylized pigeon in a stark black and white composition. The pigeon is rendered in a simplified, almost geometric form, with a bold, contrasting background of gestural black strokes. This work demonstrates Picasso's exploration of Cubist principles in his later career, where form is reduced and abstractly depicted through the use of bold lines and simplified shapes. The image is suggestive of the artist's peace activism, as the dove has long been associated with peace and hope. Picasso, a prolific artist, continued to create innovative art throughout his career, cementing his legacy as one of the most influential and groundbreaking artists of the 20th century.