1913 Femme Е la guitare1 Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1908-1918

The composition presents a fragmented figure seemingly engaged with a musical instrument. The artist has broken down form into geometric planes and interlocking shapes, eschewing traditional perspective and realistic representation. A muted palette dominates – browns, grays, creams, and touches of dark green and ochre – creating an overall somber and restrained atmosphere.
The central element appears to be a female figure, though her identity is obscured by the deconstruction of her form. Sections of what might be facial features are suggested through angular lines and subtle tonal shifts, but these remain ambiguous. A guitar, or similar stringed instrument, is integrated into the composition, its shape similarly fractured and reassembled. The placement of the instrument suggests a connection to the figure, yet their relationship remains enigmatic due to the disjointed nature of their representation.
The arrangement of planes creates a sense of depth despite the lack of traditional perspective cues. Overlapping shapes generate an illusion of spatial recession, while sharp angles and abrupt transitions contribute to a feeling of dynamism and instability. The artist’s brushwork appears deliberate, with visible strokes adding texture and emphasizing the materiality of the paint itself.
Subtly, there is a sense of melancholy conveyed through the subdued color scheme and the fragmented nature of the subject matter. The deconstruction of both figure and instrument might be interpreted as an exploration of identity or a commentary on the fragility of human experience. The ambiguity inherent in the work invites multiple interpretations, resisting any singular, definitive meaning. It seems to question conventional notions of representation and perception, prioritizing conceptual inquiry over mimetic accuracy.