1928 Baigneuses au ballon3 Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1919-1930

The composition presents two figures engaged in a playful activity on what appears to be a beach or shoreline. The scene is rendered with a simplified aesthetic, characterized by bold outlines and flattened planes of color. Here we see one figure, positioned prominently on the left, clad in vertically striped swimwear – alternating bands of orange and dark brown dominate its form. This individual’s arms are raised high above their head, suggesting an action or gesture that is not immediately clear but contributes to a sense of dynamic movement.
The second figure, located towards the right side of the canvas, is depicted in horizontally striped swimwear – red and white stripes define its form. Its gaze is directed upwards, presumably following the trajectory of a ball being tossed or juggled. The ball itself, rendered as a dark sphere speckled with lighter dots, floats centrally within the composition, acting as a focal point for both figures’ attention.
The background consists of a stylized landscape – a pale sky punctuated by broad brushstrokes suggesting clouds, and a dark blue body of water meeting a sandy shore. Darker forms are vaguely discernible in the distance, possibly representing landmasses or rock formations. The color palette is limited but impactful; the warm tones of orange and red contrast with the cooler blues and browns, creating visual interest and emphasizing the figures against their surroundings.
Beyond the immediate depiction of recreation, the painting seems to explore themes of balance, coordination, and perhaps even a sense of carefree abandon. The simplified forms and flattened perspective contribute to an almost dreamlike quality, distancing the scene from strict realism. The vertical and horizontal stripes on the swimwear introduce a visual rhythm that reinforces the overall feeling of movement and playfulness. There’s a deliberate reduction in detail; faces are largely absent or indistinct, which shifts the emphasis away from individual identity and towards the shared experience of leisure and interaction. The work evokes a sense of nostalgia for a simpler time, while simultaneously employing an aesthetic vocabulary that is distinctly modern.