The Frugal Meal, from The Saltimbanques

"The Frugal Meal" is an etching from Pablo Picasso's "Blue Period," created in 1904, depicting two emaciated figures at a sparse table, reflecting themes of poverty and isolation. Printed by Eugène Delâtre, this work is part of Picasso's "Saltimbanques" series, which explores the lives of itinerant circus performers and aligns with the artist's interest in marginalized individuals.

"The Frugal Meal, from The Saltimbanques" by Pablo Picasso, printed by Eugène Delâtre, depicts two figures seated at a sparse table, rendered in an etching on zinc with a blue-green hue on ivory laid paper, which has discolored to cream over time. The composition is characterized by its somber mood, with elongated, melancholic figures and a minimalistic setting that emphasizes the theme of poverty and isolation.