Pablo Picasso – Lunch in the Green (1961)

Louisiana poster with the work, Lunch in the Green (1961), by the Spanish artist, Pablo Picasso (1881-1973). Picasso here portrays himself as the painter and his wife, Jaqueline, as the model, while a mythical creature of a girl strolls around the pond behind, as a salute to Manet.

Lunch in the Green is painted in luscious green and deep black colors, and it almost cries out to be supplemented with similar works in oil, ink or graphics.

From the summer of 1959 and for three years onwards, Pablo Picasso devoted himself intensely to the subject of Edouard Manet's seminal painting from 1863, The Luncheon on the Grass. The motif inspired Picasso for no less than 27 paintings and around 150 drawings—and in addition several sculptures and ceramic works, where he further varied the motif.

With the help of friends and museum visitors, in the early 1980s, Louisiana's founder, Knud W. Jensen, succeeded in acquiring Frokost i det Grønne, as the first Picasso work for Louisiana's collection. Since then, more have been added.