1947 Femme au chapeau vert Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1943-1961

The composition presents a portrait of a woman rendered in a fractured and fragmented style. The artist has deconstructed the human form, presenting multiple perspectives simultaneously within a single plane. We observe a frontal view of the face, yet elements are shifted and distorted, creating an unsettling sense of spatial ambiguity.
A prominent green hat dominates the upper right quadrant, its angular planes intersecting with the contours of the woman’s head. The color is applied in broad strokes, contributing to the overall feeling of geometric simplification. A complex arrangement of red-brown hues defines the left side of her face and neck, contrasting sharply with the cooler blues and whites that delineate the right profile. This juxtaposition of warm and cool tones enhances the sense of visual tension.
The eyes are particularly striking; one is rendered in a stark, almost photographic realism, while the other is depicted as an abstracted shape, further emphasizing the disjunction between appearance and representation. The mouth is reduced to a series of angular lines, suggesting a restrained or melancholic expression.
A subtle white form descends from beneath her chin, resembling a stylized collar or shawl, adding another layer of geometric complexity. The background is a flat, ochre-toned plane that provides minimal depth but serves to accentuate the figure’s presence.
The subtexts within this work seem to explore themes of identity and perception. By dismantling conventional notions of portraiture, the artist challenges the viewers understanding of how we see and interpret the human form. The fractured representation might suggest a psychological fragmentation or an exploration of multiple facets of personality. The woman’s gaze, simultaneously direct and evasive, hints at a complex inner life that resists easy categorization. Ultimately, the painting invites contemplation on the nature of reality and the subjective experience of seeing.