At the request of the art dealer and publisher Ambroise Vollard (French, 1867–1939), Georges Braque illustrated an edition of the Theogony by Greek poet Hesiod (active ca. 700 BCE) in a series of sixteen etchings made between 1932 and 1935. This ancient text, a poetic account of the origins of the universe and genealogies of the gods, is considered one of the period’s greatest works. The use of an arabesque line, or rhythmic linear pattern, to depict the morphing figure seen here suggests Braque was influenced by Surrealism and automatic drawing.

Label from Picasso: The Artist and His Models, November 5, 2016–February 19, 2017