1958 TИte cornue au verre Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1943-1961

Here we observe a figure rendered in a stark palette of black, white, and grey, with subtle hints of ochre. The composition is dominated by a frontal portrait, though the subjects features are radically abstracted and fragmented. A prominent horn-like structure emerges from the head, immediately drawing attention to an unsettling quality. These protrusions suggest a bestial or mythological association, disrupting any straightforward reading as human.
The face itself is constructed of angular planes and vertical striations that create a mask-like effect. The eyes are large and centrally positioned, yet their expression remains ambiguous – neither overtly sorrowful nor particularly engaged. A pronounced, almost beak-like nose contributes to the overall sense of alienation.
The figure appears seated, though the contours of the chair or bench are indistinct, blending into the background. One hand rests on a support, while the other holds an object that is difficult to identify with certainty; it could be a vessel, a tool, or simply another fragmented form. The posture suggests weariness or resignation, but this impression is complicated by the figure’s stylized and unnatural appearance.
The background is rendered in broad strokes of grey, creating a sense of depth while simultaneously flattening the space. This lack of spatial clarity reinforces the feeling that the subject exists within an ambiguous realm, detached from conventional reality.
Subtexts embedded within the work seem to explore themes of identity, alienation, and the potential for transformation or degradation. The combination of human and animalistic features hints at a questioning of what constitutes humanity itself. The mask-like quality suggests concealment or a deliberate performance of self. The overall effect is one of profound psychological unease, prompting reflection on the fragility of individual existence and the unsettling possibilities inherent in the blurring of boundaries between species and states of being.