Pablo Picasso, La Ronde de la Jeunesse (The Youth Circle), 1959

Pablo Picasso La Ronde de la Jeunesse (The Youth Circle), 1959 breathes life and compassion in this resplendent image of peace. Through the use of crisp vibrant colors and the fluid use of line, Picasso creates a sense of optimistic energy that is focused around the dove of peace. This sense of hope is further heightened by the whimsical postures assumed by the dancers, indicating that they dance more in the air than on the ground. The circular formation of the dancers is also noteworthy for it is similar to a traditional Catalonian dance entitled the "Sardana" which appears frequently in Picasso's lithographs. This work retains a childlike sense of joy in which the dancing figures don bouquets of flowers and throw their hands up in the air, worshipping the dove of peace, which is located in a bright, yellow sun. This piece instills the viewer with the belief that the future is bright and full of hope and wonder.