The human figure was Pablo Picasso’s prime subject and portraiture always occupied an important place in his art. He hardly ever worked to commission and virtually all his portraits and caricatures depicted people in his intimate circle at the time.

Free from external pressure, he interpreted his subjects according to his vision and understanding of them, choosing the style and medium he deemed most expressive or appropriate on that particular occasion. Caricature was a favourite activity and many of his mature painted portraits involved the simplifications and distortions typical of the genre, and occasionally its humour.

The liberties Picasso took with natural appearances and his subversion of decorum were, nevertheless, accompanied by a constant, probing engagement with the traditions of Western portraiture.