1945 Vue de Notre-Dame de Paris – +le de la CitВ Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1943-1961

The composition presents a fragmented view of a recognizable urban landscape dominated by a prominent cathedral spire. The artist has eschewed traditional perspective and naturalistic rendering in favor of a fractured, geometric approach. Buildings are broken down into angular planes, overlapping and intersecting with one another, creating a sense of spatial ambiguity.
A muted palette prevails; predominantly cool tones – grays, blues, and greens – define the scene. These colors contribute to an atmosphere that is somber and introspective rather than celebratory or picturesque. The limited range of hues reinforces the feeling of devastation or loss implied by the temporal context suggested in the title.
The cathedral’s spire rises centrally, but its form is distorted and abstracted, appearing almost precarious against a sky rendered as a series of overlapping planes. This treatment diminishes the monumentality typically associated with such structures, suggesting vulnerability rather than strength. The surrounding buildings are similarly deconstructed, their forms reduced to simplified shapes that lack detail or ornamentation.
The artist’s choice to depict this scene through fragmentation and abstraction hints at a deeper narrative. It is possible to interpret the work as an expression of trauma or upheaval – a visual representation of a city scarred by conflict. The fractured nature of the buildings could symbolize physical destruction, while the muted colors might evoke feelings of grief and despair.
The composition’s lack of depth and its flattened perspective further contribute to this sense of disorientation and emotional distance. There is no clear foreground or background; instead, all elements are compressed into a single plane, creating an unsettling effect. The overall impression is one of profound loss and the enduring impact of historical events on the urban environment.