1939 Portrait de Dora Maar 1 Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1931-1942

Here we observe a portrait study, executed in a style characterized by fragmented planes and bold color contrasts. The subject is presented from the chest upwards, her gaze directed towards the viewer with a directness that borders on confrontation. Her hair, rendered in thick, dark strokes, falls across her face, partially obscuring one eye and contributing to an overall sense of contained intensity.
The artist employed a palette dominated by muted greens, yellows, and pinks, applied in broad, flat areas. These colors are not blended smoothly; instead, they abut each other, creating sharp divisions that emphasize the angularity of the face. The planes of the cheeks, nose, and forehead are delineated with distinct color shifts, disrupting any illusion of naturalistic representation. This approach flattens the image, pushing it towards a two-dimensional space.
The eyes are particularly striking. One is rendered in a simplified form, while the other appears larger and more detailed, creating an unsettling asymmetry that draws attention to the subject’s gaze. The mouth is small and compressed, contributing to a feeling of restraint or melancholy.
Below the face, a collar is suggested with vertical brushstrokes in shades of blue and green, further reinforcing the fragmented quality of the composition. These strokes are less defined than those used for the facial features, indicating a deliberate reduction in detail.
Subtly, theres an impression of psychological complexity conveyed through the disjointed forms and unsettling gaze. The artist seems to be exploring not merely physical likeness but also something deeper – a sense of inner turmoil or suppressed emotion. The flattening of perspective and the stark color contrasts contribute to this feeling, preventing a comfortable reading of the subject’s expression. It is as if the portrait seeks to capture a fleeting moment of introspection, revealing a vulnerability beneath a surface of composure.