1945 Vue de Notre-Dame de Paris 2 Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1943-1961

The canvas presents a view of a recognizable urban structure, dominated by a towering architectural form that suggests a cathedral or basilica. The composition is not rendered with photographic accuracy; instead, it employs a highly expressive and fragmented style. Here we see the buildings facade broken down into planes of color and texture, creating an impression of both solidity and instability.
The palette is predominantly cool – blues, whites, and grays – but punctuated by vibrant bursts of red, yellow, and touches of green. A prominent circular form, likely representing a sun or moon, radiates light from the upper center of the composition, casting a warm glow on the surrounding structures. The application of paint is thick and impastoed, with visible brushstrokes that contribute to the work’s energetic surface.
The foreground features what appears to be a river or waterway, indicated by horizontal bands of blue and white. Along its banks, indistinct figures are suggested through quick, gestural marks – they seem to populate the scene without being clearly defined. The overall effect is one of dynamism and emotional intensity.
Subtly embedded within this visual language are suggestions of resilience and hope. The presence of the sun, a symbol often associated with renewal and optimism, contrasts with the somewhat somber tones of the architecture. The figures along the riverbank imply a return to normalcy after a period of disruption or hardship – their indistinctness perhaps reflecting the collective trauma experienced by a community rebuilding itself. The fragmented style could be interpreted as an attempt to convey the psychological impact of destruction while simultaneously celebrating the enduring spirit of the place depicted.

The work’s aesthetic choices suggest a deliberate departure from traditional representational techniques, favoring instead an exploration of emotional response and subjective experience.