The girls of Avignon

This painting, which marked the beginning of Picasso’s African Period or Protocubism, is the key reference for talking about cubism. The work was widely criticized and misunderstood even among the most avant-garde artists, collectors and art critics of the time, who did not understand the new direction taken by Picasso, who had to hide it in his studio for years.

This work is considered the beginning of modern art and belongs to the pictorial avant-garde of the 20th century and today it is one of the key pieces of the MOMA museum in New York.
As in other works, Picasso did not give it a title until after a while, and it seems that he refers to the brothels of Barcelona that were in Avinyó street, a name that was confused with the French city of Avignon, with which it has remained.

Five Barcelona prostitutes who, inspired by the work of El Greco, Cezánne and primitive African art, started a revolution in 20th century art.