1938 La fermiКre Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1931-1942

The composition presents a reclining female figure dominating the horizontal format. The artist employed a restricted palette – primarily browns, grays, and muted pinks – applied with a dry brushstroke that lends a chalky texture to the surface. This limited color range contributes to an overall sense of austerity and melancholy.
Here we see the woman positioned diagonally across the canvas, her body fragmented into angular planes reminiscent of Cubist principles. Her limbs are elongated and distorted; the perspective is flattened, denying any illusionistic depth. The head, turned towards the viewer, displays large, staring eyes and a pronounced nose, rendered with an unsettling intensity. A single ear appears disproportionately large, further emphasizing the figure’s stylized nature.
The artist placed several symbolic elements within the scene. To the left of the reclining woman, a stalk of wheat rises vertically, suggesting themes of fertility or harvest, though its placement feels somewhat detached from the central figure. Below her, a cluster of heart-shaped forms appears, their ambiguous meaning open to interpretation – perhaps representing lost love, longing, or an ironic commentary on sentimentality.
The subtexts within this work seem to revolve around vulnerability and confinement. The woman’s posture suggests both relaxation and resignation; she seems simultaneously exposed and withdrawn. The starkness of the background and the limited color scheme amplify a sense of isolation. It is possible that the artist intended to convey an atmosphere of anxiety or foreboding, reflecting the turbulent political climate of the period in which it was created. The fragmented form of the figure could be interpreted as a visual representation of psychological distress or societal disruption.
The overall effect is one of unsettling beauty – a work that engages with themes of human fragility and the complexities of emotional experience through a distinctive formal language.