In my version of Picasso’s A Family of Saltimbanques I have reimagined the work without a woman sitting on the far-right of the artwork whom it is thought represented the girlfriend of Picasso, Fernande Olivier. In place of the deletion and knowing of Picasso’s love, in later life, of a dachschund he named Lump, I have included Lump to the right of the group of saltimbanques.

A Family of Saltimbanques–painted by Picasso in 1905 when he was 23 years old–is one of the most outstanding works of his ‘rose’ period. A thorough X-ray analysis revealed it was done in five stages over nine months, which testifies to a great amount of work accompanied by much hesitation.Painted in 1905,

Pablo Picasso’s Family of Saltimbanques is a masterpiece from his Rose Period. The monumental canvas portrays a melancholic group of wandering circus performers in a barren, dreamlike landscape. Rather than performing, the figures are isolated and introspective, serving as a powerful allegory for the alienation of the modern artist.

1. Visual Composition and Style

• Transitional Palette: The painting marks a visual bridge between Picasso’s sombré Blue Period and his warmer Rose Period, combining cool blues and greys with delicate pinks, oranges, and earthy tones.
• Dislocated Setting: The figures are set against a vast, ambiguous, and empty horizon. This desert-like or coastal hinterland divorces them from the bustling circus environment, amplifying their placelessness.
• Spatial Disconnection: Despite being termed a “family,” the figures suffer from a striking lack of eye contact. They appear deeply disconnected, lost in their own worlds, which creates a haunting and poignant atmosphere.

2. The Figures and Hidden Identities

• The Harlequin (Far Left): The tall, brooding man wearing a diamond-patterned costume is widely considered a self-portrait of the young, impoverished Picasso himself.
• The Acrobat & Little Girl: The small acrobat is frequently associated with Picasso’s friend, poet Max Jacob. The little girl holding a basket is sometimes interpreted as a stand-in for Picasso’s deceased younger sister, Conchita. The large jester and the deeper-browed acrobat are said to represent his inner circle of friends, including Guillaume Apollinaire and André Salmon.

3. Deeper Symbolism

• The Marginalized Artist: Like these nomadic saltimbanques, the young Picasso was an outsider struggling on the fringes of Parisian society. The painting symbolizes the transient, wandering nature of avant-garde artists and society’s neglected underclass.
• The Illusion of Entertainment: The juxtaposition of their vibrant circus costumes with their deeply sorrowful, apathetic faces speaks to the duality of performance and reality. It captures the melancholic truth behind the age-old “sad clown” trope.

You can purchase this original painted copy of the artwork for your home or office an investment of AUD$2900 that will have the artwork on your walls within 12 weeks of placing your order. Place your order here: message me

Alternatively, if you reside in Victoria Australia, we can make arrangements for you to visit my studio in Williamstown to view and to purchase the artwork.