“The Small Drawer” (LE PETIT DESSINATEUR), 1956 by: Pablo Picasso

The Small Drawer (Le Petit Dessinateur) is a lithograph by Pablo Picasso, created in 1956. It is part of a series of prints that Picasso made in collaboration with the printer Fernand Mourlot, who introduced him to the technique of lithography in 1945. Lithography is a process of printing from a flat surface, usually a stone or a metal plate, that has been treated to repel or attract ink in certain areas. The lithograph depicts a child-like drawing of a human figure with a small drawer in its chest. The figure is surrounded by various objects, such as a chair, a table, a vase, a guitar, and a bird. The style of the drawing is naive and playful, suggesting that Picasso was inspired by the spontaneity and creativity of children's art. The small drawer may also be a reference to the Surrealist concept of the "secret self", which was often represented by hidden compartments or objects in artworks. The Small Drawer (Le Petit Dessinateur) is an example of Picasso's mastery of lithography and his ability to create expressive and imaginative images with simple lines and shapes. It also shows his interest in exploring different forms of art and challenging the conventions of representation. The lithograph is currently in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.