The sculpture was initially met with controversy. Before the Picasso sculpture, public sculptural artwork in Chicago was mainly of historical figures. One derisive Chicago City Council alderman, John Hoellen, immediately proposed replacing it with a statue of Chicago Cubs baseball great Ernie Banks, and publicist Algis Budrys erected a giant pickle on the proposed site for his client, Pickle Packers International. There was speculation on the subject, which has ranged from a bird, or aardvark to Picasso's pet Afghan Hound, a baboon head, the Egyptian deity Anubis, or Sylvette David, one of his models.
