1937 Portrait de Marie-ThВrКse Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1931-1942

The composition presents a figure rendered in a fragmented and stylized manner. A woman is depicted in profile, her gaze directed towards the viewers left. Her features are simplified; the nose is reduced to a slight indentation, while the eyes possess an almost unsettling stillness. The mouth is subtly suggested, contributing to an overall impression of quiet introspection rather than overt emotion.
The artist employed a palette dominated by cool tones – greens, blues, and grays – interspersed with warmer hues of red and yellow. These colors are not blended smoothly but applied in distinct planes, creating a sense of spatial ambiguity and visual disruption. The figure’s clothing is similarly deconstructed; it appears as a series of overlapping geometric shapes rather than a cohesive garment. A broad-brimmed hat adorned with horizontal stripes sits atop her head, further emphasizing the fragmented nature of the representation.
A circular form, positioned near the womans chest, draws attention and could be interpreted as symbolic – perhaps representing an eye, a sun, or simply a compositional element intended to disrupt the visual flow. The figure’s hand is raised towards her chin in a gesture that might suggest contemplation or melancholy.
The background is minimal, consisting of a pale gray space that lacks depth or detail. This stark backdrop serves to isolate the figure and intensify the focus on her fragmented form. The overall effect is one of psychological complexity; the artist seems less interested in portraying physical likeness than in conveying an internal state – a sense of detachment, perhaps, or a quiet sadness. The deliberate distortion of perspective and the flattening of space suggest a rejection of traditional representational techniques in favor of exploring subjective experience.