The Fig-Leaf 1922 by Francis Picabia
Resource type
Journal article
Creator (person)
King, Annette
Ormsby, Bronwyn
Date published
2017
Abstract
A sardonic attack on censorship and prudery, The Fig-Leaf provoked the conservative art establishment when it was exhibited in 1922. Picabia painted this work over an existing painting, Hot Eyes, which had caused controversy itself only a year earlier. This paper draws upon technical examination to reveal the appearance and colour of the painting hidden underneath the surface, and confirms that Picabia used commercial paints, specifically a number of Ripolin products, for both images.
Journal title
Tate Papers
Issue
28
Publisher
Tate
Place of publication
UK
ISSN
1753-9854
Rights statement
In Copyright
Collection