1971 La lecture Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1962-1973

The composition presents a close-up portrait rendered in a palette dominated by cool blues and punctuated by touches of red and black. The subjects face is presented at an oblique angle, creating a sense of immediacy and intimacy while simultaneously disrupting conventional notions of representation. Facial features are simplified and fragmented; the eyes, large and dark, command attention with their direct gaze. A prominent nose juts forward, its form delineated by thick brushstrokes. The mouth is suggested rather than fully formed, contributing to an overall impression of melancholy or introspection.
The artist employed a technique characterized by visible brushwork and a deliberate flattening of perspective. This approach eschews traditional modeling and shading in favor of a more expressive application of paint. The surface texture appears rough and layered, suggesting a process of building up the image rather than smoothly rendering it.
Behind the figure’s head, a warm red background provides contrast to the cool tones of the face. It is not depicted as a space but functions more as an emotional backdrop, intensifying the subjects isolation or perhaps hinting at underlying tensions. The overall effect is one of psychological intensity; the portrait seems less concerned with external appearance and more focused on conveying an internal state.
The presence of what appears to be a book held close to the face introduces a layer of symbolic complexity. It suggests engagement with text, but the obscured nature of the reading material implies that the act of reading is not straightforward or easily accessible. The gesture could signify intellectual pursuit, escapism, or perhaps even a struggle to comprehend something profound and challenging.
The painting’s subtexts revolve around themes of introspection, alienation, and the complexities of human experience. It avoids narrative clarity, instead opting for an evocative representation that invites contemplation on the nature of perception and the inner life.