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

Here we observe a portrait executed in pencil on paper, depicting a young girl from the upper torso upwards. The composition is tightly cropped, focusing intently on her face and immediate surroundings. Her gaze is directed downwards and slightly away, suggesting introspection or perhaps a quiet melancholy. The head is turned subtly to the left, creating a dynamic asymmetry within the otherwise formal arrangement.
The artist employed a relatively loose and expressive technique. Lines are not consistently precise; instead, they vary in thickness and pressure, contributing to a sense of immediacy and capturing the fleeting quality of observation. Hatching and cross-hatching techniques define form and volume, particularly evident in the rendering of her hair and facial features. The texture of the paper is visible throughout, adding another layer of visual interest and reinforcing the drawings intimate scale.
The girl’s attire appears simple – a collared blouse with what seems to be a patterned fabric. This detail, rendered with less precision than the face, suggests an intentional prioritization of psychological representation over meticulous realism. A ribbon is loosely tied in her hair, sketched with a delicate hand and contributing to the overall impression of youthful innocence.
The background is minimal, almost entirely absent, which directs all attention towards the subject. The date 27.1.39 inscribed at the bottom right corner provides temporal context, placing the work within a specific historical moment – a period marked by escalating political tensions in Europe.
Subtly, the drawing conveys an atmosphere of quiet vulnerability and perhaps even fragility. The downward gaze, combined with the soft rendering style, evokes a sense of pensiveness or sadness. Given the date of creation, one might interpret this portrait as reflecting anxieties surrounding the uncertain future, projecting these feelings onto the innocent face of a child. It is not merely a likeness; it seems to be an attempt at capturing a particular emotional state, hinting at a deeper narrative beyond the surface representation.