1939 TИte de femme (Marie-ThВrКse Walter) Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1931-1942

The portrait presents a female subject in profile, rendered with a distinctive blend of realism and abstraction. The composition is vertically oriented, emphasizing the figures height and creating a sense of formality. Here we see a face divided into planes, where the features are not precisely delineated but rather suggested through color variations and subtle shifts in form.
The artist employed a palette dominated by pale yellows, whites, and blues, with touches of pink on the neck and lips. The skin tones appear almost translucent, conveying an impression of fragility or vulnerability. The eyes are particularly striking; one is rendered with a direct gaze, while the other appears to be looking downwards, creating a sense of asymmetry and psychological complexity. This disparity in direction contributes to a feeling that the subject is simultaneously present and withdrawn.
The hair flows down the side of the face in broad strokes of yellow, lacking detailed definition. The background consists of loosely applied brushstrokes of blue and white, which seem to recede into space, further isolating the figure. A delicate string of red beads adorns the neck, providing a small point of concentrated color that draws attention to this area.
The painting’s subtexts suggest an exploration of interiority rather than external appearance. The fragmented depiction of the face implies a psychological portrait, hinting at a sense of introspection or perhaps even melancholy. The asymmetry in the gaze could be interpreted as representing conflicting emotions or perspectives. The overall effect is one of quiet contemplation and restrained emotion, inviting viewers to consider the complexities of the subjects inner life. The deliberate lack of detail encourages an engagement with the emotional atmosphere rather than a straightforward representation of physical likeness.