Women of Algiers (Version O)

Pablo Picasso, 1955

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About This Work

This vibrant, highly complex painting, 'Women of Algiers (Version O),' is the culmination of a 15-canvas series created by Picasso in 1954-1955, inspired by Eugene Delacroix's 1834 masterpiece, 'The Women of Algiers in their Apartment.' Picasso reimagines the exotic harem scene through the revolutionary lens of Cubism, using explosive colors, dynamic brushstrokes, and wildly distorted, eroticized female figures. This work is not merely a copy but a profound dialogue with art history, paying homage to Delacroix and other masters like Matisse (who had recently passed away and was also fascinated by Orientalist themes) while asserting Picasso's own enduring vitality and innovative spirit. The painting is a rich tapestry of art historical references, personal obsessions, and a celebration of female form and sensuality.

Picasso's 'Women of Algiers' series was a deeply personal project, undertaken in the wake of Henri Matisse's death in 1954. Matisse, a friendly rival, had also been profoundly influenced by Delacroix's 'Women of Algiers,' and Picasso's series can be seen as both an homage and a challenge to Matisse's legacy. The series comprises 15 variations, designated A through O, with 'Version O' being the final and most elaborate. In May 2015, 'Version O' made headlines when it sold at Christie's New York for an astonishing $179.4 million, setting a new world auction record for any artwork at the time. This record-breaking sale underscored its immense art historical significance and its status as one of Picasso's most important late works. It had been owned by the prominent collectors Victor and Sally Ganz since 1956, and its current owner is believed to be Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani of Qatar, a testament to its global appeal and enduring value.

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