1934 Minotaure aveugle guidВ par une fillette dans la nuit IVb (Suite Vollard L92) Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1931-1942

The etching presents a complex and unsettling nocturnal scene rendered in stark contrasts of light and shadow. A central figure, clearly intended as a Minotaur, dominates the composition. Its bovine head is aggressively forward, mouth agape, suggesting both threat and vulnerability. The creature appears to be guided by a young girl; she extends her hand towards it, her posture conveying a mixture of caution and determination.
Flanking this central pair are two additional figures. To the left, a boy sits with his finger raised to his lips, seemingly observing the scene with an air of quiet contemplation or perhaps warning. On the right, another figure, partially obscured by shadow, appears to be leaning against a structure, their face and expression difficult to discern but suggesting weariness or resignation.
The background is filled with a dense scattering of stars, creating a sense of vastness and isolation. The darkness surrounding the figures amplifies their vulnerability and emphasizes the surreal nature of the encounter. The artist employed a limited tonal range, relying heavily on black ink and white space to define forms and create dramatic effects. Hatching and cross-hatching are used extensively to build up areas of shadow and texture, contributing to the overall feeling of unease.
Subtextually, the work seems to explore themes of guidance, protection, and the uneasy relationship between humanity and its primal instincts. The Minotaur, a creature embodying both human and animal nature, might represent repressed desires or societal anxieties. The young girl’s role as guide suggests innocence confronting darkness, or perhaps an attempt at reconciliation with the monstrous aspects of existence. The boys silence could signify complicity, observation, or a cautionary stance towards the unfolding drama. The figure on the right embodies a sense of passive acceptance or exhaustion in the face of overwhelming forces.
The overall impression is one of psychological complexity and symbolic weight, inviting contemplation about the nature of fear, responsibility, and the precariousness of human connection within a chaotic world.