- Deux femmes devant une fenêtre [Two Women in Front of a Window]
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In Two Women in Front of a Window, Pablo Picasso bridges Cubism and Surrealism. He retains the geometric play of early Cubism as well as a framing device similar to many of his collages. At the same time, the freer drawing of the figure on the right suggests an interest in the subconscious sketching techniques of the new Surrealist movement.
The women of the title can be seen as representing two opposing principles. Picasso highlights the differences between the two figures by painting them in quite different styles. One can identify the figure on the left as a hard, angular woman (perhaps Picasso’s wife, Olga), and the one on the right as a more sensuous woman (Marie-Thérèse Walter, his lover at the time). Whereas the left figure is sharp and concrete, the right figure is inviting, delicate, and ghost-like, appearing as if in a dream.
ProvenanceCarlo Frua de Angeli, Milan; [Galerie Philippe Reichenbach, Paris]; Caroline Wiess Law, May 31, 1956–April 29, 1964; given to MFAH, 1964.
Exhibition History"Picasso," Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, June–October 1955.
"Paintings from Philippe Reichenbach Gallery (1950-1960)," Houston, March 15, 1960.
"Texas Collects 20th Century Art," Dallas Museum for Contemporary Arts, May 14–30, 1963.
"Accessions and Proposals," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, April 30–May 24, 1964.
"Homage à Picasso," Musées Nationaux, Grand Palais, Paris, November, 1966–March, 1967.
"Modern Painting: 1900 to the Present," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, July 15–September 14, 1975.
"A Permanent Heritage," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, October 23, 1980–January 4, 1981.
"Direction and Diversity: Twentieth Century Art in the Museum Collection,” Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, May 21–September 3, 1988.
"The Dark Mirror – Picasso: Photography and Painting," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, November 16, 1997–February 1, 1998.
"A Spirited Vision: Highlights of the Bequest of Caroline Wiess Law to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, February 22–April 25, 2004.
"Picasso Arlecchino," Complesso del Vittoriano, Rome, October 10, 2008–February 8, 2009.
"Picasso," Museu Picasso de Barcelona, February 24–May 27, 2013.
"Europe 1900-1975: Selections from the Museum's Collection," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, March 4, 2014–January 4, 2015.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
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