1969 Homme assis 1 Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1962-1973

The composition presents a figure seated in profile, rendered with a deliberate distortion of form and perspective characteristic of fractured representation. The artist employed a limited palette dominated by ochre, brown, red, white, and touches of yellow and blue, applied with visible brushstrokes that contribute to the work’s textural quality.
Here we see a fragmented depiction of what appears to be a human figure, though its features are abstracted and reassembled in an unconventional manner. The head is elongated, with prominent, stylized eyes set within a narrow facial plane. A dark mass suggests hair or a headdress, positioned above the head. Below this, the neck seems to merge into a collar-like structure composed of vertical bands of color.
The torso is delineated by broad, horizontal stripes of red and brown, which disrupt any sense of naturalistic anatomy. The central area of the figure’s body is occupied by an angular, geometric form – a diamond shape rendered in blue and white – that seems to function as a symbolic shield or barrier. This element introduces a layer of complexity, suggesting themes of protection, confinement, or perhaps even alienation.
The lower portion of the figure displays what might be interpreted as feet or stylized appendages, depicted with broad planes of color and simplified forms. The overall impression is one of isolation and introspection; the figure appears withdrawn, facing away from the viewer.
The date 24.6.69 inscribed in the upper right corner provides a temporal anchor for the work, situating it within a specific historical context. This detail, combined with the painting’s formal qualities, hints at an exploration of identity, perception, and the anxieties inherent in modern existence. The deliberate fragmentation and reassembly of form suggest a questioning of established norms and a search for new modes of representation.