An original lithograph “Las Banderillas” – 1961

Published by André Sauret, Monte Carlo

Printed by Mourlot, Paris

Size: ca. 24.5 x 31 cm (sheet only)

We guarantee that this is an authentic lithograph by Pablo Picasso and this artwork comes with the Certificate of Authenticity.

Three other lithographs from this edition are available for purchase.

Artwork Essay

In Las banderillas, Picasso once again turns to the theme of the Spanish bullfight — not as a folkloric spectacle, but as a myth infused with strength, beauty, and tragedy. The banderillas — short, ornamented barbed sticks thrust into the bull’s shoulders before the final act — represent the climax of tension, the moment when ritual crosses into a cult of pain and heroism.

Picasso does not depict the scene literally, but instead renders it in his signature stylized manner: dynamic forms, fragmented anatomy, and emphasis on gesture and impulse. The composition captures not the outward appearance of the moment, but its inner energy — the rhythm of the arena, the pulse of the bull, and the predatory precision of the matador.

Interpretation: “Las banderillas” is not a literal depiction of a moment, but a visual resonance of the Spanish soul. Through this image, Picasso expresses his deep connection to national identity and to the themes of sacrifice and triumph. It is a symbol of the collision between beauty and death, grace and aggression, tradition and inevitability.