1970 Jeune fille assise Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1962-1973

The composition presents a young girl seated, rendered in a style characterized by flattened planes and fragmented forms. The figure is positioned centrally against a vibrant yellow background that abruptly transitions into areas of orange and pink towards the right edge. This abrupt shift contributes to a sense of spatial ambiguity, denying traditional perspective.
Here we see the subject’s face presented with large, somewhat disproportionate eyes, conveying an impression of vulnerability or perhaps naive observation. The nose is reduced to a simple line, while the mouth is subtly indicated, lacking any overt expression. A dark curl falls over one shoulder, adding a touch of softness to the otherwise angular features.
The girl wears a hat with a complex arrangement of colored stripes – red, green, blue, and white – that further emphasizes the fractured nature of the image. The clothing appears similarly constructed from geometric blocks of color: reds, blues, greens, and yellows are juxtaposed without clear definition of form or fabric. This treatment reduces the garments to decorative elements rather than functional attire.
The artist employed a limited palette dominated by primary colors, applied with visible brushstrokes that contribute to the painting’s textural quality. The application is direct and unblended, reinforcing the sense of immediacy and spontaneity.
Subtly, theres an underlying tension between the figure’s apparent youthfulness and the somewhat unsettling distortion of her features. This could be interpreted as a commentary on the complexities of childhood or perhaps a reflection of the artist’s interest in deconstructing traditional representations of beauty and innocence. The fragmented forms might also suggest a sense of displacement or alienation, hinting at an emotional distance between the subject and the viewer. The date inscribed in the upper right corner – 21.11.70 – provides a temporal anchor, situating the work within a specific historical context marked by social and political upheaval, which may have influenced the artist’s approach to portraying human subjects.