Image: Musée National Picasso-Paris / Public Domain
View source →The Massacre in Korea (Study)
Pablo Picasso, 1951
Technical Details
Medium
Pencil on paper
Dimensions
50 × 65 cm (19.7 × 25.6 in)
Style
Political Realism
Decade
1950s
About This Work
This preparatory study for Massacre in Korea shows Picasso working out the composition of the final painting. The pencil drawing reveals the underlying structure of the work — the arrangement of the figures, the relationship between the soldiers and the civilians, the spatial organization of the scene. It is a rare glimpse into Picasso's working process for one of his most important political paintings.
Picasso made numerous studies for Massacre in Korea before completing the final painting in January 1951. The studies show him working through different compositional arrangements, testing the relationship between the armored soldiers and the naked civilians. This study is one of the most complete of the preparatory drawings.
Current Location
Musée National Picasso-Paris, Paris, France
Public Collection — Open to visitors
Visit museum website →Valuation & Provenance
2026 Estimated Value
$5–10 million (est.)
* Estimates are based on comparable auction results and market analysis. Not a formal appraisal.
Last Known Sale
No public auction record — held in permanent museum collection
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