1954 Portrait de Sylvette David 07 Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1943-1961

The drawing presents a young woman in profile, her gaze directed towards the left of the frame. She is depicted from the chest upwards, with considerable emphasis on the rendering of her hair and facial features. The artist employed a technique that prioritizes rapid execution and expressive mark-making over meticulous detail. Lines are loose, often sketchy, and vary significantly in thickness and pressure, contributing to a sense of immediacy and vitality.
The subject’s hair is a prominent feature, cascading down her shoulders and partially obscuring the neck. Its rendered with dense, swirling lines that suggest both volume and movement. A simple tie secures some of the hair at the crown of her head. The face itself displays a quiet introspection; the mouth is closed, and the eyes appear to be focused on an unseen point. Subtle shading around the nose and cheekbones indicates a degree of three-dimensionality, though the overall effect remains largely linear.
The clothing appears simple – a collared shirt with a visible button at the throat. The texture of the fabric is suggested through short, parallel strokes that create a sense of roughness. Behind the subject’s head, a background composed of loosely sketched lines provides minimal context but contributes to the drawings overall dynamism.
The work conveys an impression of fleeting observation and psychological depth. It isn’t merely a likeness; it seems to capture a moment of quiet contemplation or perhaps even a hint of melancholy. The rapid execution suggests that the artist was less concerned with achieving photographic realism than with conveying a sense of character and inner life. Theres a vulnerability in the subject’s expression, amplified by the directness of her profile view. The drawing feels like an intimate glimpse into the sitter’s private world, recorded with a swift and perceptive hand.