The Woman in Algiers is based on a painting of the same name by Delacroix. Francois Giraud, Picasso's lover, described the artist's creation in his memoir published in 1964: Picasso often told her about his adaptation of "Women in Algiers" and took her to the Louvre once a month to study the original painting.

After two months' exploration of hundreds of pieces of paper and 14 other oil paintings, the woman in Algiers was created in February 1955.

Characteristics of works

The composition of this work is dense, showing cubism, perspective and strong color. This is a milestone in Picasso's creation. Together with The Maiden of avignon (1907) and guernica (1937), it became one of Picasso's most famous works. "