Musketeer and Amor, 1969 by Pablo Picasso

In this painting, using bizarre coloration, Picasso consolidates a legendary figure - Amor - with the musketeer so frequently found in his work since 1967: an exemplification of masculinity and a symbol of strength and superiority, whose main concern is the conquest of womankind. Love and sexual desire are the predominant themes whenever a musketeer appears, and erotic elements are often pretty much straightforwardly and openly.

In this painting, however, the subject's pose is neither aggressive nor ingratiating; he was just sitting there quite calmly with little Amor, who rather resembles a plutto, on his lap. We cannot tell who will be the target of Cupid's dart. The musketeer's iconographic attributes are insufficient yet informative: he has the typical curly hair and is puffing at his pipe, although viewers cannot see his sword and hat. His impressive boots and characteristic ruff are cursorily indicated.