Pablo Picasso used found wood to create Cigare (1941), one in a series of sculptures that the artist made for his partner and muse Dora Maar during World War II. Measuring about four inches, the charred tip of the painted brown stick of wood mimics a lit cigar, suggesting the act of smoking, which Picasso referenced through paraphernalia, like cigarette boxes and matchbox lids, in other works from this time. While traditionally thought of first and foremost as a painter, Picasso’s sculptures received critical acclaim, and offered a unique window into his playfulness and how he investigated new ideas. Picasso’s first comprehensive exhibition of his sculptures debuted when the artist was 85-years-old.
