1937 La femme qui pleure 5 Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1931-1942

The drawing presents a fragmented female figure against a stark black background. The artist employed a limited palette – primarily brown ink on what appears to be reddish-brown paper – which contributes to a somber and claustrophobic atmosphere. The composition is dominated by the face, rendered in a highly stylized manner characteristic of Cubist tendencies.
Here we see multiple perspectives layered upon one another; the profile view of the eye contrasts with the frontal presentation of the mouth, creating a sense of disorientation and psychological complexity. The figure’s hair is depicted as a chaotic tangle of lines, further emphasizing the feeling of distress or upheaval. A prominent feature is the exaggerated depiction of tears streaming from the eyes, rendered as elongated, angular shapes that contribute to the overall expression of sorrow.
The artists use of line is particularly noteworthy. Rapid, agitated strokes define the contours and internal structures of the face, conveying a sense of emotional turbulence. The lines are not clean or precise; instead, they appear hesitant and fractured, mirroring the fragmented nature of the figure’s psychological state. A small, almost bird-like form emerges from the upper portion of the head, its presence ambiguous – it could be interpreted as an element of surrealism, a symbolic representation of fragility, or simply another facet of the figures internal turmoil.
The subtexts within this drawing suggest themes of grief, suffering, and psychological fragmentation. The distorted features and disjointed composition evoke a sense of pain that transcends mere sadness; it implies a deeper, more profound emotional crisis. The limited color range reinforces the feeling of melancholy and confinement. The artist’s choice to depict the figure in such a fractured manner suggests an exploration of the complexities of human emotion and the difficulty of expressing them through conventional means. It is a portrait not simply of a woman weeping, but of a psyche undergoing intense distress.