1944 Buste de femme au chapeau bleubis Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1943-1961

The work presents a portrait bust, rendered in a style characterized by fractured planes and geometric simplification. The subject is a woman, depicted from the chest upwards, her gaze directed towards the viewer with a palpable intensity. A striking blue hat dominates the composition, its angular form echoing the overall fragmentation of the image.
Here we see a deliberate distortion of facial features; the nose is rendered as a sharp, green wedge, while the eyes are large and almond-shaped, conveying an expression that oscillates between melancholy and defiance. The mouth is small and tightly closed, contributing to a sense of restrained emotion. The artist employed a limited palette dominated by blues, greens, yellows, and browns, with stark contrasts in tone creating depth and emphasizing the angularity of the forms.
The woman’s attire consists of what appears to be a jacket or blouse featuring vertical stripes that further dissect the composition into distinct segments. Her arms are crossed over her chest, a gesture which can be interpreted as both defensive and resolute. The background is a flat, ochre-toned plane, devoid of detail, serving to isolate the figure and intensify its presence.
Subtleties within the work suggest layers of meaning beyond a simple portrait. The fractured nature of the representation hints at an exploration of identity – a sense of being broken or fragmented. The woman’s direct gaze challenges the viewer, demanding attention and perhaps even provoking discomfort. The blue hat, a recurring motif in the artists oeuvre, could symbolize intellect, creativity, or even mourning.
The overall effect is one of psychological complexity; the subject appears both vulnerable and powerful, her expression hinting at an internal struggle. The painting’s formal elements – the geometric shapes, the limited color range, and the fragmented composition – work together to create a sense of unease and ambiguity, inviting multiple interpretations regarding the womans character and circumstances.