Focus on this artwork and explain the Significance and legacy.
John Richardson referred to the period in which Picasso focused his artwork on Walter as, "his most innovative period since cubism".Christie's comments on the significance of these sleeping portraits of Walter. "Picasso's frequent portrayals of Marie-Thérèse sleeping provided the ideal platform for his eloquent, sensual, romantic visions of her, hinting at the languid eroticism of their lifestyle in the secluded château, while also tapping into her character."
Sotheby's described the painting as, "a stunning and intimate depiction of Picasso’s 'golden muse'."This classic, dreamy example from his critical year of 1932 is immediately recognizable, and captures the key elements of his work inspired by Marie Therese. Its lush, painterly quality and vibrant colors stand in stark contrast to Picasso's final portraits of his first wife, Olga Khokhlova, which immediately precede this extraordinary period – generally considered the strongest in Picasso's entire career."
Christie's Olga Khokhlova Sotheby's John Richardson