1938 Portrait de femme 1 Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1931-1942

The composition presents a female figure rendered in a fragmented and abstracted style. Here we observe a frontal pose, yet the subjects features are not presented realistically; instead, they are deconstructed and reassembled with geometric planes and shifting perspectives. The face is divided into distinct areas of color – red, orange, blue, and green – each plane contributing to an overall sense of psychological complexity rather than straightforward representation.
The artist placed a wide-brimmed hat atop the figure’s head, its shape echoing the angularity of the facial planes. A single strand of hair falls across the cheek, contrasting with the darker mass on the left side of the face. The eyes are rendered as almond shapes, one appearing larger than the other, creating an unsettling asymmetry that disrupts conventional notions of beauty and balance. The lips are thin and sharply defined, contributing to a sense of restraint or melancholy.
The figure is adorned with what appears to be a necklace – a geometric form composed of angular lines – and a patterned garment, its design echoing the fractured nature of the portrait itself. The background is a warm, earthy tone that provides a neutral backdrop against which the subject’s fragmented features stand out.
Subtly, theres an implication of confinement or observation. The direct gaze suggests both vulnerability and defiance. The disjointed planes might symbolize internal conflict, emotional fragmentation, or perhaps a commentary on societal pressures imposed upon women during the period in which this work was created. The overall effect is one of psychological intensity – a portrait not merely of a person but of an interior state. The deliberate distortion and simplification suggest a desire to move beyond superficial appearances and explore deeper truths about identity and experience.