1904 Acrobate au ballon (Fillette au ballon) Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1889-1907

Pablo Picasso is recognized as one of the greatest artists of the last two centuries. His paintings are filled with a certain extravagance, mystery, and sometimes even frightening elements, but they leave no one indifferent. The painting Girl on a Ball became a masterpiece of 20th-century art. It is housed in the Pushkin Museum in Moscow. It was acquired at the beginning of the 20th century by a collector from Russia, but during the revolution, it was seized by the Bolsheviks. Thus, it became accessible for public viewing in the hall of the Museum of Arts. Girl on a Ball was painted during Picassos early period, just a year after he moved to Paris.

Everyone can see something different in this painting. A person with positive emotions may see a positive meaning, while someone in a depressed mood may see something ominous in it. This is also evidenced by the fact that many caricatures and expressions of ones vision of the painting have been created. Some depict a nail instead of the girl on the ball, others a dog or a bird, a naked woman – anything at all. There are even many sculptures dedicated to this painting. Many sculptors wanted to embody the masterpiece of painting in stone or bronze, while others depicted the characters in cartoons and caricatures. The theme of the painting is popular and continues to inspire peoples imagination.

According to official sources, the painting depicts life in a traveling circus, with an acrobat sitting on a rock, and a young girl training for performances. The mans face is furrowed and serious; he is pondering something and confident. The girl is cheerful and carefree, but at the same time, she balances precariously on the ball. In the painting, tenderness contrasts with roughness, and childish innocence stands in stark contrast to the wisdom gained through life experiences. Movement is depicted against a backdrop of stillness. There is both care for the younger generation and, at the same time, a sense of uncertainty about the future in the man. The man is slightly stooped, which shows his sadness, while the entire figure of the girl strives upwards; her hands are directed with palms towards the sky, symbolizing a desire for a happy future. The location of the acrobats is in an open area, where a woman with a child and a horse can be seen in the distance. The expanses are vast, with several horizons in the distance, symbolizing freedom. The painting carries a deep meaning, where every detail is part of a whole. In 2012, Russia issued a coin depicting this Pablo Picasso painting.