Picasso (1905). Family of Saltimbanques [oil on canvas]. Chester Dale Collection, (c) 2008 Board of Trustees, National Gallery of Art, Washington.

High key, pastel-like values and a rough texture characterize this work. The color palette is disharmonious, and denser, colorless values are placed for variety. Depth and focal points are built through contrasts in value and detail. At points in the composition, forms have ambiguous edges, blending with their surroundings. |

The scene depicts a reasonably realistic yet highly stylized portrait of a family of acrobats. The subject matter and orientation of the poses is somewhat unexpected. All have calm, contemplative expressions on their faces. The overall feel of the work has a pastel, even an unfinished, quality, but it is created with oil on canvas.

There is some brittle line use to define figurative edges. This work is primarily built through roughly textured values and colors which create shapes. All forms are natural or somewhat artificial (clothing). The color scheme is difficult to identify. Complementary are used, but not the full range, as for example a number of varying blues play off of oranges, but reds and pinks are left on their own. It's difficult for me to make a connection with this work to Picasso's later work, although abstraction is clearly beginning to soak into the character of this work.

Manipulation of detail and value contrasts (both sharp and blended) create the illusion of space. Overlap and a specialized version of atmospheric perspective are also at work. The figures carry almost all of the weight in this work as the background is quite indistinct. There is interesting balance achieved by the standing group in opposition to the single seated figure. The cropping of her gown at the lower edge of the picture plane infuses her with more interest.

The full value range is used, which is what attracts attention more than anything. This is used to created the most detailed moments which are the faces, and the direction of their gazes further directs the eye. A wide, not full, range of colors is used, which what secondarily creates movement. While color treatment and the contrast of background versus subject detail gives this work a slightly haphazard feel, the arrangement of the figures and their poses offer stability.

Calibration of detail and a sense of economy are foundational to this painting. The equation of vagueness and detail Picasso has created is a perfect example of how to include everything necessary and not a drop more.