Pablo Picasso's <i>La Vie in the Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA 45. 24) is described with regard to structure and layering of paint. Evidence provided by x-radiographs taken at the museum show numerous areas of pentimenti and the presence of an earlier painting beneath <i>La Vie. This lower painting was identified as Picasso's <i>Dying Woman and is described in detail. Photographs of <i>La Vie, preparatory drawing for the <i>Dying Woman, and the composite x-radiographs are included. -- AATA