1945 Poireaux, crГne et pichet 4 Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1943-1961

The composition presents a still life arrangement rendered in a fragmented and distorted style. A table surface dominates the foreground, upon which several objects are placed with deliberate disregard for conventional perspective. Bundles of green leeks occupy the left side, their forms simplified into angular planes. Positioned centrally is a skull, starkly white against the darker tones surrounding it. The skull’s eye sockets and nasal cavity are rendered as deep voids, emphasizing its symbolic weight.
To the right of the skull sits a pitcher, depicted with a similar fractured approach to form. Its surface reflects light in sharp, angular highlights. Behind these objects, a figure is suggested, though its features are highly abstracted and difficult to discern clearly. The face appears mask-like, with an eye marked by a spiraling pattern that draws attention.
The color palette is restrained, primarily utilizing greens, whites, blacks, and muted earth tones. A diagonal plane cuts across the background, creating a sense of spatial ambiguity and contributing to the overall feeling of disorientation. A single letter – seemingly S – appears faintly inscribed in the upper left corner, its meaning unclear but potentially acting as an initial or signature.
The arrangement evokes themes of mortality and contemplation. The presence of the skull immediately signals a meditation on death and impermanence. However, the inclusion of the leeks introduces a layer of complexity; they represent sustenance and life, creating a juxtaposition with the symbol of decay. The abstracted figure in the background might be interpreted as an observer or participant in this scene, adding to the sense of psychological depth. The fragmented style itself reinforces the idea that reality is not fixed but rather a collection of fractured perceptions. It suggests a world viewed through a lens of trauma and loss, perhaps reflecting the aftermath of conflict.