Sylvette

Sylvette: Picasso’s sculpture in Rotterdam

Rotterdam is home to a work by one of the most famous artists of the 20th century. Sylvette is a monumental concrete sculpture designed by Pablo Picasso and created in collaboration with Norwegian artist Carl Nesjar.

The artwork is located on Westersingel, close to Museumpark, and forms part of the important collection of outdoor sculptures that can be seen free of charge in central Rotterdam.

Standing approximately 7.5 metres high and 4.5 metres wide, Sylvette is characterised by its simple lines and the strong contrast between the concrete and the dark lines that form the figure.

Sylvette, Picasso sculpture in Rotterdam — Sylvette, Picasso’s sculpture in Rotterdam

Who was Sylvette?

Picasso met Sylvette David in 1954, when she was 19 years old. Her distinctive blonde hair, tied in a long ponytail, immediately caught the artist’s attention.

For a brief period, Sylvette became one of his muses. Picasso created numerous portraits inspired by her using different techniques, including drawings, paintings, ceramics and sculptures.

Her distinctive profile and characteristic ponytail can clearly be recognised in the monumental artwork that can now be seen in Rotterdam.

Picasso and Carl Nesjar

To transform his designs into enormous concrete artworks, Picasso collaborated with Norwegian artist Carl Nesjar.

Nesjar used a technique known as Betograve, in which the surface of the concrete was worked to expose the darker aggregate beneath. This made it possible to reproduce the characteristic lines of Picasso’s drawings on a monumental scale.

The result in Sylvette is an artwork that appears to transfer one of Picasso’s drawings directly onto an enormous concrete surface.

How Sylvette came to Rotterdam

Rotterdam’s connection with Picasso’s monumental works began before Sylvette arrived in the city.

During the 1960s, plans were considered to install a large work by Picasso in Kralingse Bos, but the project faced opposition and was ultimately not carried out.

In 1971, the Bouwcentrum acquired Sylvette and later donated it to the municipality of Rotterdam. The heavy sculpture stood in several different locations before being moved in 2003 to its present location near Museumpark.

Today, it is one of Rotterdam’s most notable works of public art and can be seen free of charge while walking along Westersingel.

Picasso’s Sylvette: practical information

ℹ️ QUICK INFORMATION
🎨 Artists	Pablo Picasso and Carl Nesjar
📏 Height	Approximately 7.5 metres
🧱 Material	Concrete
📍 Location	Westersingel, near Museumpark
💶 Admission	Free, public space

Other sculptures in Rotterdam