1940 Femme assise dans un fauteuil 5 Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1931-1942

The drawing presents a seated figure, rendered in a monochromatic palette dominated by shades of gray and black. The subject appears to be a woman, though her features are abstracted and fragmented, characteristic of a Cubist approach. She is positioned within what seems to be an armchair or upholstered seat, the contours of which are suggested through angular lines and planes rather than smooth curves.
The artist has employed a technique that emphasizes sharp contrasts between light and shadow, creating a sense of dramatic intensity. The face is particularly striking; the eyes are large and somewhat almond-shaped, conveying a feeling of melancholy or introspection. The nose is reduced to a series of geometric shapes, while the mouth appears small and downturned. Hair falls in thick, dark strands around her head, further obscuring facial details.
The composition feels compressed, with the figure occupying nearly the entire vertical space. This contributes to an atmosphere of confinement or isolation. The background is largely undefined, save for a suggestion of a wall or backdrop rendered in darker tones, which serves to isolate the subject and intensify the focus on her posture and expression.
Subtleties within the work hint at underlying emotional complexities. The woman’s hands are clasped tightly in her lap, suggesting anxiety or restraint. Her gaze is directed downwards, avoiding direct engagement with the viewer, reinforcing a sense of detachment. The overall effect is one of quiet despair or resignation, evoking a mood consistent with the historical context of the early 1940s – a period marked by significant global upheaval and personal hardship. The deliberate distortion of form and perspective serves not to obscure meaning but rather to amplify the emotional weight of the subject’s experience.