Getting into costume allows us to step into another character, to put on a show. Picasso was intrigued by performance – bullfighting but also concerts, cabaret, puppetry and costumed balls. As a parent, he dressed his kids up as harlequins and loved to get into fancy dress too. He was captured here later in life in a light-hearted moment, making face masks and clowning around with friends.

 The Picasso Study Centre in Paris has set up a great website where you can search and explore loads of images relating to Picasso’s life and work, such as this one:

Pablo Picasso avec un masque de clown et un chapeau melon à La Californie, Cannes, en juillet 1957