Game of Boule 1931

José Pavón made this print called ‘Game of Boule’ sometime in the early 1900s, using a monochrome palette to build a social scene. Pavón's focus on pattern and line gives the impression that everything has been carefully placed. I wonder about the initial impulse that made him want to depict this scene. What was it about this particular grouping of people, trees, and buildings that made him feel like he had to commit it to paper? I can imagine Pavón was thinking about artists like Daumier, who also found drama and humanity in ordinary situations. Pavón isn’t just showing us a game; he’s capturing a moment of human connection, or maybe disconnection. The lines carve out forms, creating texture that gives the whole scene a vibrant, lively feel.