1937 Femme au bВret et Е la robe Е carreaux (Marie-ThВrКse Walter) Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1931-1942

The composition presents a portrait rendered in a fractured and fragmented style. The subjects face is deconstructed into geometric planes, with sharp angles and abrupt shifts in perspective that challenge conventional notions of representation. A vibrant red hat, adorned with green and white accents, dominates the upper portion of the image, its angularity echoing the fragmentation of the facial features below.
The artist employed a restricted palette – primarily reds, greens, blues, and yellows – applied with visible brushstrokes that contribute to the painting’s textural complexity. The background is a deep, saturated purple-red, which serves to isolate the figure and intensify the impact of its chromatic elements. A horizontal band of muted green appears behind the neck, offering a subtle contrast to the foregrounds intensity.
The subject’s gaze is direct yet ambiguous; one eye is rendered in profile while the other faces forward, creating a disconcerting effect that disrupts spatial coherence. The mouth is depicted as a thin, dark line, suggesting a restrained or melancholic expression. A checkered pattern covers the shoulders and upper torso, adding another layer of visual disruption to the overall design.
The work seems to explore themes of identity and perception. By dismantling the conventional representation of a human face, the artist invites viewers to question the nature of reality and the subjectivity inherent in observation. The fractured planes might suggest an internal psychological state – a sense of fragmentation or emotional complexity – rather than a straightforward depiction of physical appearance. The bold colors and angular forms convey a feeling of dynamism and tension, hinting at underlying anxieties or conflicts. Ultimately, the painting resists easy interpretation, instead presenting a complex visual puzzle that engages the viewer in a process of active reconstruction.