Man bust (the athlete)

The composition called Busto de Homem, also popularly known as The Athlete, was one of pablo Ruiz Picasso's first cubist works, performed in Horta de Ebro, made two years before his famous canvas - "Les demoiselles d'Avignon". The work has been part of the MASP collection since 1958.

In his work, the artist demonstrates the profusion of the muscles of a gymnast boy in which the robust lines protheme to the natural features, being proper in geometric resources (cylinder, cone, sphere). The male representation without clothes is contemplated from the hip up, consisting of terrous and beige shades. His most closed facial expression is composed of prominent apples and a bronco nose. It features a well-delineated mouth and look low and fixed to the left side. It has a rounded head with two large entrances that stand out, above the high forehead. The model man who inspired the work was called Joaquim Antonio Vives Terrars.