Picasso's Woman In A Mantilla

by Lindsay Shapka in , ,


La Salchichona 1917 — Picasso             Museu Picasso, Barcelona, Spain

*Note: Post was updated in 2024

This stunning work by Picasso is housed in the Museu Picasso in Barcelona.

I was completely enchanted by this work when I came upon it while walking through the museum one afternoon. It is oversized, and unlike anything that I had ever seen before — by Picasso or any other artist, for that matter. 

When I was a child, my mother said to me, ‘If you become a soldier, you’ll be a general. If you become a monk, you’ll end up as the Pope.’ Instead, I became a painter and wound up as Picasso.
— Pablo Picasso

The gaze of the women depicted is striking and seems to look right through you, but my favourite part of the piece is the obvious difference between the painted and unpainted sections.

Whether it was meant to be left this way or is unfinished, I don't know, but it is a breathtaking work that gives incredible insight into the artist's process.


Meet The Author

Lindsay Shapka is an avid traveler and the creator of The Anthrotorian — a website dedicated to sharing travel tips, stories about adventures, culture quirks, artists you should know, fascinating bits of history, and more! 

She is also an artist, marketing specialist, editor, and freelance writer who has work featured on websites, blogs, and in magazines like National Geographic Traveler

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