1937 Portrait de femme au bВret 3 Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1931-1942

The painting presents a female figure in a bust-length composition. The subject is rendered with a deliberate fracturing of form and perspective characteristic of early modern artistic approaches. Her face is constructed from angular planes of color – pale greens, yellows, blues, and pinks – that disrupt traditional notions of realistic representation. A prominent vertical line bisects the face, emphasizing its geometric construction and contributing to an unsettling asymmetry.
The woman wears a distinctive green beret with red stripes and a small red pompom atop it. This headwear introduces a note of regional or cultural specificity, suggesting perhaps a connection to Basque identity given the traditional style of the hat. A dark, textured collar frames her neck, contrasting sharply with the smooth planes of her face and adding visual weight to the upper portion of the composition.
The background is a muted blue-green, providing minimal contextual information and directing focus squarely onto the subject. The color palette overall is restrained, relying on cool tones that contribute to a sense of melancholy or introspection.
Subtleties within the portrait suggest a complex psychological state. Her gaze is direct but distant, conveying an impression of both strength and vulnerability. The fragmented nature of her features might be interpreted as a visual metaphor for inner turmoil or a deconstruction of conventional feminine ideals. The deliberate distortion of perspective could also signify a questioning of established social norms or a rejection of superficial appearances.
The painting’s power resides not in its literal depiction but in its ability to evoke a mood and suggest layers of meaning through the manipulation of form, color, and composition. It is an exploration of identity, perception, and the complexities inherent within human experience.