1936 Femme Вcrivant une lettre * Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1931-1942

The composition presents a figure seated at a table, engaged in writing. The subjects form is fragmented and reassembled, characteristic of a style that prioritizes conceptual representation over mimetic accuracy. Facial features are simplified into geometric planes; the eyes possess an introspective quality, directed towards an unseen point beyond the viewer’s perspective. A prominent nose and sharply defined mouth contribute to a sense of quiet intensity.
The figures body is rendered with similar angularity, the breasts depicted as flattened shapes integrated within the overall structure. The hands, holding a writing instrument, are also broken down into planes, emphasizing their function rather than their anatomical detail.
A table draped in a vibrant red cloth occupies the foreground. Upon it rests a sheet of paper, suggesting the act of correspondence or documentation. Behind the figure, an architectural element – possibly a window or wall – is suggested through a series of intersecting lines and planes, creating a sense of enclosure and depth. The color palette is dominated by muted tones of gray, purple, and ochre, punctuated by the striking red of the table covering.
The artist’s use of fractured forms and flattened perspective generates a feeling of psychological complexity. The subjects posture and gaze suggest contemplation or perhaps melancholy. The act of writing itself can be interpreted as symbolic of communication, memory, or even self-reflection. The fragmented nature of the figure might allude to a sense of alienation or internal conflict. The overall effect is one of restrained emotion conveyed through a deliberate distortion of reality.