1949 Femme aux cheveux verts Il Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1943-1961

The composition presents a frontal portrait of a woman against a muted rose-colored background. The figure is rendered in a stylized manner, characteristic of post-Cubist aesthetics, with simplified forms and flattened perspective. Her face possesses large, almond-shaped eyes that convey an expression of melancholy or introspection; the brows are sharply angled, contributing to this somber mood. A prominent nose and thin lips further define her features. The artist employed a limited palette dominated by greens, blacks, whites, and the aforementioned rose tone, creating a sense of visual restraint.
The woman’s hair is depicted as a dark mass framing her face, with sections delineated in shades of green, suggesting volume but maintaining an overall planar quality. She wears what appears to be a shawl or garment that covers her shoulders and upper chest. This textile is patterned with small, rectangular shapes – possibly stylized playing cards – arranged in a grid-like formation. A large, dark oval adorns the center of this garment, positioned just above the neckline.
The overall effect is one of deliberate artificiality. The stark contrast between the woman’s pale face and the darker tones surrounding her draws attention to her expression. The patterned textile introduces an element of visual complexity that contrasts with the simplicity of the portraits core elements. The playing card motif, if indeed it represents cards, could be interpreted as a reference to chance, fate, or perhaps even a commentary on societal structures and games.
The vertical inscription in the upper left corner, partially obscured, adds another layer of complexity; its illegibility prevents direct interpretation but contributes to the painting’s enigmatic quality. The work seems less concerned with realistic representation than with exploring formal relationships between shape, color, and texture, while simultaneously evoking a sense of quiet introspection and perhaps underlying emotional weight.