1938 Maya Е deux ans et demi avec un bateau Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1931-1942

The composition presents a figure seated upon what appears to be a dark, tiled surface. The subject is rendered in a fragmented style, characteristic of Cubism, with planes of color and sharply defined lines dissecting the form. A prominent hat, striped in purple and black, sits atop the head, partially obscuring the hair which falls in thick, green-tinged strands.
The face itself is divided into distinct planes; one side rendered in a pale blue hue, the other in a warmer flesh tone. The eyes are disproportionately large and positioned asymmetrically, contributing to an unsettling yet captivating gaze. A single, dark line bisects the nose, further emphasizing the fractured nature of the representation.
The figure is clothed in a complex arrangement of patterned fabrics – stripes and checks dominate, creating a visual dynamism that contrasts with the stillness of the pose. The hands hold what seems to be a small boat or vessel, its form simplified into geometric shapes. A thin, winding line extends from one hand, suggesting movement or perhaps an imagined connection to something beyond the immediate scene.
The color palette is dominated by cool tones – greens, blues, and purples – punctuated by warmer pinks and yellows. The background is a pale turquoise, providing a relatively neutral space against which the figure’s fragmented form stands out.
Beyond the surface depiction, the work seems to explore themes of identity and perception. The fractured representation suggests a deconstruction of conventional portraiture, challenging the viewers understanding of what constitutes a recognizable human form. The presence of the boat introduces an element of narrative ambiguity – is it a toy, a symbol of escape, or something else entirely? The overall effect is one of unsettling familiarity; the figure evokes childhood innocence while simultaneously presenting a distorted and complex psychological portrait. There’s a sense of melancholy underlying the playful arrangement of colors and shapes, hinting at deeper emotional currents within the subjects experience.