The statue of the Man with the Sheep was made in 1943 and offered to the city in 1949 to thank the population for its warm welcome.
It is also the first sculpture by Picasso installed in a public place according to the wishes of the artist.
As a sign of gratitude, the city named Picasso an honorary citizen.
This statue is installed on a small square accessible on foot and by car in Vallauris.
Developed very quickly, this statue is however preceded by many sketches and months of reflection.
Picasso considered it a masterpiece and apart, both in terms of its style and its subject, since Picasso sculpted very few male figures and even fewer symbolic works.
The theme refers to the pagan theme of the Criophore Hermes and to the Christian theme of the “good shepherd”.
Picasso expresses a human feeling, a feeling that exists today as it has always existed, joined by its humanism to the context of the war and, by its pathetic attitude, the lamb appears as a victim.
