1967 TИte de mousquetaire 2 Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1962-1973

The artwork presents a close-up portrait, dominated by a distorted human face. The subjects features are rendered with thick, expressive brushstrokes and a limited palette primarily composed of grays, whites, and blacks, creating a stark and somewhat unsettling visual effect. A sense of theatricality is immediately apparent; the face appears to be that of a mask or a character in disguise.
The eyes are wide and seemingly fixed, conveying an impression of either intense scrutiny or vacantness. The mouth is stretched into a broad, almost manic grin, which contributes to the overall feeling of unease and ambiguity. It’s difficult to discern genuine emotion; the smile feels forced, potentially masking underlying tension or anxiety.
The hair, depicted as swirling, chaotic lines around the face, further enhances the sense of instability and disorientation. Below the face, a stylized collar is visible, adding another layer of costumery and reinforcing the impression of performance. The background is entirely black, isolating the figure and intensifying its presence within the composition.
The artist’s technique suggests an interest in exploring psychological states rather than achieving realistic representation. The exaggerated features and distorted proportions evoke feelings of alienation and perhaps even a critique of societal facades. One might interpret this as a commentary on the constructed nature of identity or the performative aspects of human interaction. The work seems to question authenticity, suggesting that what we perceive as reality is often a carefully crafted illusion.

The date 17.6.67 appears in the lower right corner, providing a temporal anchor for the creation of this unsettling and enigmatic portrait.