1938 TИte de jeune fille au poКme Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1931-1942

The composition presents a portrait rendered in a style characterized by fragmented planes and expressive brushwork. Here we observe a young woman depicted in profile, her face constructed from angular shapes and varying hues of green, blue, and ochre. The simplification of features – the elongated nose, the almond-shaped eye – contributes to an overall sense of stylized representation rather than naturalistic depiction.
The artist employed a limited palette dominated by reds, greens, and blues, with touches of yellow and pink adding visual complexity. These colors are applied in broad strokes, creating a textured surface that emphasizes the physicality of the paint itself. The background is not uniform; it appears to be built up from layers of color, suggesting an underlying sense of instability or emotional depth.
A significant element of this work lies in the presence of dense, handwritten text layered across the composition. These inscriptions, seemingly random and overlapping, are difficult to decipher fully but contribute significantly to the painting’s overall effect. They appear as a visual echo of internal monologue or a stream of consciousness, blurring the boundaries between image and language. The script is not integrated into the figures narrative; instead, it functions as an independent layer of meaning, creating a sense of disorientation and adding another dimension to the portraits psychological complexity.
The woman’s hair, rendered in thick, swirling lines, frames her face and contributes to the dynamic energy of the composition. The neck is elongated and stylized, further emphasizing the artist’s departure from conventional portraiture. A circular motif appears at the base of the neck, resembling a collar or perhaps an abstract floral element, adding another layer of symbolic ambiguity.
The work suggests a preoccupation with interiority and psychological states. It moves beyond a simple representation of physical appearance to explore themes of identity, memory, and the complexities of human experience. The combination of fragmented forms, expressive color, and textual elements creates a powerful visual statement that resists easy interpretation, inviting viewers to engage in an active process of meaning-making.